Digital architecture for radio-frequency apparatus and associated methods

ABSTRACT

A radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a receiver analog circuitry and a receiver digital circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry resides within a first integrated circuit and the receiver digital circuitry resides within a second integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit couples to the first integrated circuit via a one-bit digital interface. The receiver analog circuitry receives an RF signal and processes the received RF signal to generate a digital signal. The receiver analog circuitry provides the digital signal to the receiver digital circuitry. The receiver digital circuitry includes a digital down-converter circuitry that mixes the digital signal with an intermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a digital down-converted signal. The receiver digital circuitry also includes a digital filter circuitry that filters the digital down-converted signal to generate a filtered digital signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of, and incorporates byreference, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/287,995, filed on Nov.28, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,702,362, titled “Digital Architecture ForRadio-Frequency Apparatus And Associated Methods,” which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/075,122 filed Feb.12, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,970,717, titled “Digital Architecture ForRadio-Frequency Apparatus And Associated Methods,” which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/821,342,titled “Partitioned Radio-Frequency Apparatus and Associated Methods,”and filed on Mar. 29, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,497. This patentapplication claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser.No. 60/261,506, filed on Jan. 12, 2001; Provisional U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/273,119, titled “Partitioned RF Apparatus withDigital Interface and Associated Methods,” and filed on Mar. 2, 2001;and Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/333,520, filed onNov. 27, 2001.

Furthermore, this patent application incorporates by reference thefollowing patent documents: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/075,099,titled “Notch Filter for DC Offset Reduction in Radio-FrequencyApparatus and Associated Methods”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/074,676, titled “DC Offset Reduction in Radio-Frequency Apparatus andAssociated Methods.”

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to radio-frequency (RF) receivers andtransceivers. More particularly, the invention concerns a (i) digitalarchitecture for RF receiver or transceiver circuitry, and (ii) notchfilter circuitry and architecture for offset reduction in the RFreceiver or transceiver circuitry.

BACKGROUND

The proliferation and popularity of mobile radio and telephonyapplications has led to market demand for communication systems with lowcost, low power, and small form-factor radio-frequency (RF)transceivers. As a result, recent research has focused on providingmonolithic transceivers using low-cost complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor (CMOS) technology. One aspect of research efforts hasfocused on providing an RF transceiver within a single integratedcircuit (IC). The integration of transceiver circuits is not a trivialproblem, as it must take into account the requirements of thetransceiver's circuitry and the communication standards governing thetransceiver's operation. From the perspective of the transceiver'scircuitry, RF transceivers typically include sensitive componentssusceptible to noise and interference with one another and with externalsources. Integrating the transceiver's circuitry into one integratedcircuit may exacerbate interference among the various blocks of thetransceiver's circuitry. Moreover, communication standards governing RFtransceiver operation outline a set of requirements for noise,inter-modulation, blocking performance, output power, and spectralemission of the transceiver.

Unfortunately, no known technique for addressing all of the above issuesin high-performance RF receivers or transceivers, for example, RFtransceivers used in cellular and telephony applications, has beendeveloped. A need therefore exists for techniques of partitioning andintegrating RF receivers or transceivers that would provide low-cost,low form-factor RF transceivers for high-performance applications, forexample, in cellular handsets.

A further aspect of RF receivers and transceivers relates to providinghigh-performance signal processing functions in an integrated form.Typical conventional receivers and transceivers rely on basebandprocessor circuitries to implement various signal processing functions,such as channelization filtering. Some baseband processor circuitries,however, do not contain their own channelization filtering. Furthermore,the system designer may choose to not implement channelization filteringin a baseband processor circuitry in order to, for example, reduceperformance requirements for data converter circuitries present in thereceiver or transceiver. The migration of the signal processingfunctions to the baseband processor circuitry may also result in itsincreased complexity. Moreover, front-end analog circuitry contributesDC offsets that impact the processing of the desired signal. A furtherneed therefore exists for RF apparatus that provide high performancesignal processing functions to implement functions ranging fromreduction or cancellation of DC offsets to signal processing within theRF apparatus signal path, such as channelization filtering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to architectures, circuit arrangements for RFapparatus, such as receiver circuitry and transceiver circuitry, andmethods relating to the RF apparatus. One aspect of the inventionconcerns apparatus for receiving RF signals.

In one embodiment, a receiver digital circuitry according to theinvention includes a digital down-converter circuitry and a digitalfilter circuitry. The digital down-converter circuitry mixes a digitalinput signal provided by a receiver analog circuitry with anintermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator signal to generate adigital down-converted signal. The digital filter circuitry filters thedigital down-converted signal to generate a filtered digital signal. Thereceiver analog circuitry resides within a first integrated circuit andthe receiver digital circuitry resides within a second integratedcircuit. The second integrated circuit couples to the first integratedcircuit via a one-bit digital interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of theinvention and therefore do not limit its scope. The disclosed inventiveconcepts lend themselves to other equally effective embodiments. In thedrawings, the same numerals used in more than one drawing denote thesame, similar, or equivalent functionality, components, or blocks.

FIG. 1 illustrates the block diagram of an RF transceiver that includesradio circuitry that operates in conjunction with a baseband processorcircuitry.

FIG. 2A shows RF transceiver circuitry partitioned according to theinvention.

FIG. 2B depicts another embodiment of RF transceiver circuitrypartitioned according to the invention, in which the reference generatorcircuitry resides within the same circuit partition, or circuit block,as does the receiver digital circuitry.

FIG. 2C illustrates yet another embodiment of RF transceiver circuitrypartitioned according to invention, in which the reference generatorcircuitry resides within the baseband processor circuitry.

FIG. 2D shows another embodiment of RF transceiver circuitry partitionedaccording to the invention, in which the receiver digital circuitryresides within the baseband processor circuitry.

FIG. 3 illustrates interference mechanisms among the various blocks ofan RF transceiver, which the embodiments of the invention in FIGS.2A-2D, depicting RF transceivers partitioned according to the invention,seek to overcome, reduce, or minimize.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed block diagram of RF transceiver circuitrypartitioned according to the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative technique for partitioning RFtransceiver circuitry.

FIG. 6 shows yet another alternative technique for partitioning RFtransceiver circuitry.

FIG. 7 depicts a more detailed block diagram of RF transceiver circuitrypartitioned according to the invention, in which the receiver digitalcircuitry resides within the baseband processor circuitry.

FIG. 8 illustrates a more detailed block diagram of a multi-band RFtransceiver circuitry partitioned according to the invention.

FIG. 9A shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the interface betweenthe receiver digital circuitry and receiver analog circuitry in an RFtransceiver according to the invention.

FIG. 9B depicts a block diagram of another embodiment of the interfacebetween the baseband processor circuitry and the receiver analogcircuitry in an RF transceiver according to the invention, in which thereceiver digital circuitry resides within the baseband processorcircuitry.

FIG. 10 illustrates a more detailed block diagram of the interfacebetween the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digitalcircuitry, with the interface configured as a serial interface.

FIG. 11A shows a more detailed block diagram of an embodiment of theinterface between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digitalcircuitry, with the interface configured as a data and clock signalinterface.

FIG. 11B illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a delay-cellcircuitry that includes a clock driver circuitry in tandem with a clockreceiver circuitry.

FIG. 12 depicts a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a signal-drivercircuitry used to interface the receiver analog circuitry and thereceiver digital circuitry according to the invention.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate schematic diagrams of embodiments ofsignal-receiver circuitries used to interface the receiver analogcircuitry and the receiver digital circuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic diagram of another signal-driver circuitrythat one may use to interface the receiver analog circuitry and thereceiver digital circuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 15 depicts a portion of a typical spectrum in exemplary embodimentsof the invention of the output signal of the receiver analog circuitrythat includes the desired signal.

FIG. 16 illustrates a typical plot of the quantization noise transferfunction of the analog-digital converter circuitries in exemplaryembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 17A shows a conceptual or functional block diagram that providesmore details of a receiver digital circuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 17B illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram thatprovides more details of a receiver digital circuitry according to theinvention that includes programmable-gain amplifier circuitries.

FIG. 18A depicts a conceptual or functional block diagram that providesmore details of an alternative architecture for a receiver digitalcircuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 18B shows a conceptual or functional block diagram that providesmore details of an alternative architecture for a receiver digitalcircuitry according to the invention that includes programmable-gainamplifier circuitries.

FIG. 19 illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of anexemplary embodiment of a digital down-converter circuitry for use inreceiver digital circuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 20A shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of an exemplaryembodiment of an intermediate-frequency local-oscillator (IF LO)circuitry for use in receiver digital circuitry according to theinvention.

FIG. 20B illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of anotherexemplary embodiment of a combined digital down-converter circuitry andIF LO circuitry for use in receiver digital circuitry according to theinvention.

FIG. 21 depicts a conceptual or functional block diagram of a digitalintegrator circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of digital filtercircuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of adigital differentiator circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments ofdigital filter circuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 23 shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of signal flowwithin a first-order cascaded integrator/comb (CIC) filter circuitry foruse in exemplary embodiments of digital filter circuitry according tothe invention.

FIG. 24 depicts a conceptual or functional block diagram of a boxcarfilter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of digital filtercircuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of a CICfilter circuitry, which includes decimator circuitry, for use inexemplary embodiments of digital filter circuitry according to theinvention.

FIG. 26 shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of a second-orderfilter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of digital filtercircuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 27 depicts a conceptual or functional block diagram of a notchfilter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of digital filtercircuitry according to the invention.

FIG. 28A illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of acascade arrangement of a biquad filter circuitry and a notch filtercircuitry for use in digital filter circuitry according to theinvention.

FIG. 28B illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of acascade arrangement of a notch filter circuitry and a biquad filtercircuitry for use in digital filter circuitry according to theinvention.

FIG. 29A shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of a digitalfilter circuitry for use in RF apparatus according to the invention,which includes two biquad filter sections and a notch filter section.

FIG. 29B depicts a conceptual or functional block diagram of a digitalfilter circuitry for use in RF apparatus according to the invention thatincludes three biquad filter sections and a notch filter section.

FIG. 29C illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of digitalfilter circuitry for use in RF apparatus according to the invention thatincludes five biquad filter sections and a notch filter section.

FIG. 29D shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of a digitalfilter circuitry for use in RF apparatus according to the invention,which includes a notch filter section and two biquad filter sections.

FIG. 29E depicts a conceptual or functional block diagram of a digitalfilter circuitry for use in RF apparatus according to the invention thatincludes a notch filter section and three biquad filter sections.

FIG. 29F illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of digitalfilter circuitry for use in RF apparatus according to the invention thatincludes a notch filter section and five biquad filter sections.

FIG. 30A shows a pole-zero diagram on a unit circle for the IIR filtercircuitry illustrated in FIG. 29E.

FIG. 30B depicts plots of magnitude response curves for the IIR filtercircuitry illustrated in FIG. 29E.

FIG. 30C illustrates plots of group delay response curves for the IIRfilter circuitry illustrated in FIG. 29E.

FIG. 31 shows a typical spectrum of the signal at the input of thereceiver digital circuitry in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 32 depicts a typical spectrum of the signal at an output of adigital down-converter circuitry in exemplary embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 33 illustrates a typical spectrum of the signal at an output of adecimator circuitry in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 34 shows a typical spectrum of the signal at an output of anotch-filter circuitry in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 35 depicts a typical spectrum of the signal at an output of the IIRfilter circuitry in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 36A illustrates a pole-zero diagram of a double-sided notch-filtercircuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 36B shows a frequency-domain response spectrum for the double-sidednotch-filter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 37A depicts a pole-zero diagram of a single-sided notch-filtercircuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 37B illustrates a frequency-domain response spectrum for asingle-sided notch-filter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments ofthe invention.

FIG. 38 shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of an alternativenotch-filter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 39 illustrates a typical pole-zero diagram that demonstratesadjustment or gear-shifting of a notch-filter circuitry in exemplaryembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 40 shows a timeline for the operation of various blocks, includingthe notch filter circuitry, in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention in part contemplates partitioning RF apparatus so as toprovide highly integrated, high-performance, low-cost, and lowform-factor RF solutions. One may use RF apparatus according to theinvention in high-performance communication systems. More particularly,the invention in part relates to partitioning RF receiver or transceivercircuitry in a way that minimizes, reduces, or overcomes interferenceeffects among the various blocks of the RF receiver or transceiver,while simultaneously satisfying the requirements of the standards thatgovern RF receiver or transceiver performance. Those standards includethe Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication, Personal CommunicationServices (PCS), Digital Cellular System (DCS), Enhanced Data for GSMEvolution (EDGE), and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS). RF receiveror transceiver circuitry partitioned according to the inventiontherefore overcomes interference effects that would be present in highlyintegrated RF receivers or transceivers while meeting the requirementsof the governing standards at low cost and with a low form-factor. Thedescription of the invention refers to circuit partition and circuitblock interchangeably.

FIG. 1 shows the general block diagram of an RF transceiver circuitry100 according to the invention. The RF transceiver circuitry 100includes radio circuitry 110 that couples to an antenna 130 via abi-directional signal path 160. The radio circuitry 110 provides an RFtransmit signal to the antenna 130 via the bi-directional signal path160 when the transceiver is in transmit mode. When in the receive mode,the radio circuitry 110 receives an RF signal from the antenna 130 viathe bi-directional signal path 160.

The radio circuitry 110 also couples to a baseband processor circuitry120. The baseband processor circuitry 120 may comprise a digital-signalprocessor (DSP). Alternatively, or in addition to the DSP, the basebandprocessor circuitry 120 may comprise other types of signal processor, aspersons skilled in the art understand. The radio circuitry 110 processesthe RF signals received from the antenna 130 and provides receivesignals 140 to the baseband processor circuitry 120. In addition, theradio circuitry 110 accepts transmit input signals 150 from the basebandprocessor 120 and provides the RF transmit signals to the antenna 130.

FIGS. 2A-2D show various embodiments of RF transceiver circuitrypartitioned according to the invention. FIG. 3 and its accompanyingdescription below make clear the considerations that lead to thepartitioning of the RF transceiver circuitry as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D.FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment 200A of an RF transceiver circuitrypartitioned according to the invention. In addition to the elementsdescribed in connection with FIG. 1, the RF transceiver 200A includesantenna interface circuitry 202, receiver circuitry 210, transmittercircuitry 216, reference generator circuitry 218, and local oscillatorcircuitry 222.

The reference generator circuitry 218 produces a reference signal 220and provides that signal to the local oscillator circuitry 222 and toreceiver digital circuitry 212. The reference signal 220 preferablycomprises a clock signal, although it may include other signals, asdesired. The local oscillator circuitry 222 produces an RF localoscillator signal 224, which it provides to receiver analog circuitry208 and to the transmitter circuitry 216. The local oscillator circuitry222 also produces a transmitter intermediate-frequency (IF) localoscillator signal 226 and provides that signal to the transmittercircuitry 216. Note that, in RF transceivers according to the invention,the receiver analog circuitry 208 generally comprises mostly analogcircuitry in addition to some digital or mixed-mode circuitry, forexample, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry and circuitry toprovide an interface between the receiver analog circuitry and thereceiver digital circuitry, as described below.

The antenna interface circuitry 202 facilitates communication betweenthe antenna 130 and the rest of the RF transceiver. Although not shownexplicitly, the antenna interface circuitry 202 may include atransmit/receive mode switch, RF filters, and other transceiverfront-end circuitry, as persons skilled in the art understand. In thereceive mode, the antenna interface circuitry 202 provides RF receivesignals 204 to the receiver analog circuitry 208. The receiver analogcircuitry 208 uses the RF local oscillator signal 224 to process (e.g.,down-convert) the RF receive signals 204 and produce a processed analogsignal. The receiver analog circuitry 208 converts the processed analogsignal to digital format and supplies the resulting digital receivesignals 228 to the receiver digital circuitry 212. The receiver digitalcircuitry 212 further processes the digital receive signals 228 andprovides the resulting receive signals 140 to the baseband processorcircuitry 120.

In the transmit mode, the baseband processor circuitry 120 providestransmit input signals 150 to the transmitter circuitry 216. Thetransmitter circuitry 216 uses the RF local oscillator signal 224 andthe transmitter IF local oscillator signal 226 to process the transmitinput signals 150 and to provide the resulting transmit RF signal 206 tothe antenna interface circuitry 202. The antenna interface circuitry 202may process the transmit RF signal further, as desired, and provide theresulting signal to the antenna 130 for propagation into a transmissionmedium.

The embodiment 200A in FIG. 2A comprises a first circuit partition, orcircuit block, 214 that includes the receiver analog circuitry 208 andthe transmitter circuitry 216. The embodiment 200A also includes asecond circuit partition, or circuit block, that includes the receiverdigital circuitry 212. The embodiment 200A further includes a thirdcircuit partition, or circuit block, that comprises the local oscillatorcircuitry 222. The first circuit partition 214, the second circuitpartition 212, and the third circuit partition 222 are partitioned fromone another so that interference effects among the circuit partitionstend to be reduced. The first, second, and third circuit partitionspreferably each reside within an integrated circuit device. In otherwords, preferably the receiver analog circuitry 208 and the transmittercircuitry 216 reside within an integrated circuit device, the receiverdigital circuitry 212 resides within another integrated circuit device,and the local oscillator circuitry 222 resides within a third integratedcircuit device.

FIG. 2B shows an embodiment 200B of an RF transceiver circuitrypartitioned according to the invention. The embodiment 200B has the samecircuit topology as that of embodiment 200A in FIG. 2A. The partitioningof embodiment 200B, however, differs from the partitioning of embodiment200A Like embodiment 200A, embodiment 200B has three circuit partitions,or circuit blocks. The first and the third circuit partitions inembodiment 200B are similar to the first and third circuit partitions inembodiment 200A. The second circuit partition 230 in embodiment 200B,however, includes the reference signal generator 218 in addition to thereceiver digital circuitry 212. As in embodiment 200A, embodiment 200Bis partitioned so that interference effects among the three circuitpartitions tend to be reduced.

FIG. 2C illustrates an embodiment 200C, which constitutes a variation ofembodiment 200A in FIG. 2A. Embodiment 200C shows that one may place thereference signal generator 218 within the baseband processor circuitry120, as desired. Placing the reference signal generator 218 within thebaseband processor circuitry 120 obviates the need for either discretereference signal generator circuitry 218 or an additional integratedcircuit or module that includes the reference signal generator 218.Embodiment 200C has the same partitioning as embodiment 200A, andoperates in a similar manner.

Note that FIGS. 2A-2C show the receiver circuitry 210 as a block tofacilitate the description of the embodiments shown in those figures. Inother words, the block containing the receiver circuitry 210 in FIGS.2A-2C constitutes a conceptual depiction of the receiver circuitrywithin the RF transceiver shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, not a circuit partitionor circuit block.

FIG. 2D shows an embodiment 200D of an RF transceiver partitionedaccording to the invention. The RF transceiver in FIG. 2D operatessimilarly to the transceiver shown in FIG. 2A. The embodiment 200D,however, accomplishes additional economy by including the receiverdigital circuitry 212 within the baseband processor circuitry 120. Asone alternative, one may integrate the entire receiver digital circuitry212 on the same integrated circuit device that includes the basebandprocessor circuitry 120. Note that one may use software (or firmware),hardware, or a combination of software (or firmware) and hardware torealize the functions of the receiver digital circuitry 212 within thebaseband processor circuitry 120, as persons skilled in the art who havethe benefit of the description of the invention understand. Note alsothat, similar to the embodiment 200C in FIG. 2C, the baseband processorcircuitry 120 in embodiment 200D may also include the reference signalgenerator 218, as desired.

The partitioning of embodiment 200D involves two circuit partitions, orcircuit blocks. The first circuit partition 214 includes the receiveranalog circuitry 208 and the transmitter circuitry 216. The secondcircuit partition includes the local oscillator circuitry 222. The firstand second circuit partitions are partitioned so that interferenceeffects between them tend to be reduced.

FIG. 3 shows the mechanisms that may lead to interference among thevarious blocks or components in a typical RF transceiver, for example,the transceiver shown in FIG. 2A. Note that the paths with arrows inFIG. 3 represent interference mechanisms among the blocks within thetransceiver, rather than desired signal paths. One interferencemechanism results from the reference signal 220 (see FIGS. 2A-2D), whichpreferably comprises a clock signal. In the preferred embodiments, thereference generator circuitry produces a clock signal that may have afrequency of 13 MHz (GSM clock frequency) or 26 MHz. If the referencegenerator produces a 26 MHz clock signal, RF transceivers according tothe invention preferably divide that signal by two to produce a 13 MHzmaster system clock. The clock signal typically includes voltage pulsesthat have many Fourier series harmonics. The Fourier series harmonicsextend to many multiples of the clock signal frequency. Those harmonicsmay interfere with the receiver analog circuitry 208 (e.g., thelow-noise amplifier, or LNA), the local oscillator circuitry 222 (e.g.,the synthesizer circuitry), and the transmitter circuitry 216 (e.g., thetransmitter's voltage-controlled oscillator, or VCO). FIG. 3 shows thesesources of interference as interference mechanisms 360, 350, and 340.

The receiver digital circuitry 212 uses the output of the referencegenerator circuitry 218, which preferably comprises a clock signal.Interference mechanism 310 exists because of the sensitivity of thereceiver analog circuitry 208 to the digital switching noise andharmonics present in the receiver digital circuitry 212. Interferencemechanism 310 may also exist because of the digital signals (forexample, clock signals) that the receiver digital circuitry 212communicates to the receiver analog circuitry 208. Similarly, thedigital switching noise and harmonics in the receiver digital circuitry212 may interfere with the local oscillator circuitry 222, giving riseto interference mechanism 320 in FIG. 3.

The local oscillator circuitry 222 typically uses an inductor in aninductive-capacitive (LC) resonance tank (not shown explicitly in thefigures). The resonance tank may circulate relatively large currents.Those currents may couple to the sensitive circuitry within thetransmitter circuitry 216 (e.g., the transmitter's VCO), thus givingrise to interference mechanism 330. Similarly, the relatively largecurrents circulating within the resonance tank of the local oscillatorcircuitry 222 may saturate sensitive components within the receiveranalog circuitry 208 (e.g., the LNA circuitry). FIG. 3 depicts thisinterference source as interference mechanism 370.

The timing of the transmit mode and receive mode in the GSMspecifications help to mitigate potential interference between thetransceiver's receive-path circuitry and its transmit-path circuitry.The GSM specifications use time-division duplexing (TDD). According tothe TDD protocol, the transceiver deactivates the transmit-pathcircuitry while in the receive mode of operation, and vice-versa.Consequently, FIG. 3 does not show potential interference mechanismsbetween the transmitter circuitry 216 and either the receiver digitalcircuitry 212 or the receiver analog circuitry 208.

As FIG. 3 illustrates, interference mechanisms exist between the localoscillator circuitry 222 and each of the other blocks or components inthe RF transceiver. Thus, to reduce interference effects, RFtransceivers according to the invention preferably partition the localoscillator circuitry 222 separately from the other transceiver blocksshown in FIG. 3. Note, however, that in some circumstances one mayinclude parts or all of the local oscillator circuitry within the samecircuit partition (for example, circuit partition 214 in FIGS. 2A-2D)that includes the receiver analog circuitry and the transmittercircuitry, as desired. Typically, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)within the local oscillator circuitry causes interference with othersensitive circuit blocks (for example, the receiver analog circuitry)through undesired coupling mechanisms. If those coupling mechanisms canbe mitigated to the extent that the performance characteristics of theRF transceiver are acceptable in a given application, then one mayinclude the local oscillator circuitry within the same circuit partitionas the receiver analog circuitry and the transmitter circuitry.Alternatively, if the VCO circuitry causes unacceptable levels ofinterference, one may include other parts of the local oscillatorcircuitry within the circuit partition that includes the receiver analogcircuitry and the transmitter circuitry, but exclude the VCO circuitryfrom that circuit partition.

To reduce the effects of interference mechanism 310, RF transceiversaccording to the invention partition the receiver analog circuitry 208separately from the receiver digital circuitry 212. Because of themutually exclusive operation of the transmitter circuitry 216 and thereceiver analog circuitry 208 according to GSM specifications, thetransmitter circuitry 216 and the receiver analog circuitry 208 mayreside within the same circuit partition, or circuit block. Placing thetransmitter circuitry 216 and the receiver analog circuitry 208 withinthe same circuit partition results in a more integrated RF transceiveroverall. The RF transceivers shown in FIGS. 2A-2D employ partitioningtechniques that take advantage of the above analysis of the interferencemechanisms among the various transceiver components. To reduceinterference effects among the various circuit partitions or circuitblocks even further, RF transceivers according to the invention also usedifferential signals to couple the circuit partitions or circuit blocksto one another.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed block diagram of an embodiment 400 of an RFtransceiver partitioned according to the invention. The transceiverincludes receiver analog circuitry 408, receiver digital circuitry 426,and transmitter circuitry 465. In the receive mode, the antennainterface circuitry 202 provides an RF signal 401 to a filter circuitry403. The filter circuitry 403 provides a filtered RF signal 406 to thereceiver analog circuitry 408. The receiver analog circuitry 408includes down-converter (i.e., mixer) circuitry 409 andanalog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry 418. The down-convertercircuitry 409 mixes the filtered RF signal 406 with an RF localoscillator signal 454, received from the local oscillator circuitry 222.The down-converter circuitry 409 provides an in-phase analogdown-converted signal 412 (i.e., I-channel signal) and a quadratureanalog down-converted signal 415 (i.e., Q-channel signal) to the ADCcircuitry 418.

The ADC circuitry 418 converts the in-phase analog down-converted signal412 and the quadrature analog down-converted signal 415 into a one-bitin-phase digital receive signal 421 and a one-bit quadrature digitalreceive signal 424. (Note that FIGS. 4-8 illustrate signal flow, ratherthan specific circuit implementations; for more details of the circuitimplementation, for example, more details of the circuitry relating tothe one-bit in-phase digital receive signal 421 and the one-bitquadrature digital receive signal 424, see FIGS. 9-14.) Thus, The ADCcircuitry 418 provides the one-bit in-phase digital receive signal 421and the one-bit quadrature digital receive signal 424 to the receiverdigital circuitry 426. As described below, rather than, or in additionto, providing the one-bit in-phase and quadrature digital receivesignals to the receiver digital circuitry 426, the digital interfacebetween the receiver analog circuitry 408 and the receiver digitalcircuitry 426 may communicate various other signals. By way ofillustration, those signals may include reference signals (e.g., clocksignals), control signals, logic signals, hand-shaking signals, datasignals, status signals, information signals, flag signals, and/orconfiguration signals. Moreover, the signals may constitute single-endedor differential signals, as desired. Thus, the interface provides aflexible communication mechanism between the receiver analog circuitryand the receiver digital circuitry.

The receiver digital circuitry 426 includes digital down-convertercircuitry 427, digital filter circuitry 436, and digital-to-analogconverter (DAC) circuitry 445. The digital down-converter circuitry 427accepts the one-bit in-phase digital receive signal 421 and the one-bitquadrature digital receive signal 424 from the receiver analog circuitry408. The digital down-converter circuitry 427 converts the receivedsignals into a down-converted in-phase signal 430 and a down-convertedquadrature signal 433 and provides those signals to the digital filtercircuitry 436. The digital filter circuitry 436 preferably comprises aninfinite impulse response (IIR) channel-select filter that performsvarious filtering operations on its input signals. The digital filtercircuitry 436 preferably has programmable response characteristics. Notethat, rather than using an IIR filter, one may use other types of filter(e.g., finite impulse-response, or FIR, filters) that provide fixed orprogrammable response characteristics, as desired.

The digital filter circuitry 436 provides a digital in-phase filteredsignal 439 and a digital quadrature filtered signal 442 to the DACcircuitry 445. The DAC circuitry 445 converts the digital in-phasefiltered signal 439 and the digital quadrature filtered signal 442 to anin-phase analog receive signal 448 and a quadrature analog receivesignal 451, respectively. The baseband processor circuitry 120 acceptsthe in-phase analog receive signal 448 and the quadrature analog receivesignal 451 for further processing.

The transmitter circuitry 465 comprises baseband up-converter circuitry466, offset phase-lock-loop (PLL) circuitry 472, and transmitvoltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) circuitry 481. The transmit VCOcircuitry 481 typically has low-noise circuitry and is sensitive toexternal noise. For example, it may pick up interference from digitalswitching because of the high gain that results from the resonantLC-tank circuit within the transmit VCO circuitry 481. The basebandup-converter circuitry 466 accepts an intermediate frequency (IF) localoscillator signal 457 from the local oscillator circuitry 222. Thebaseband up-converter circuitry 466 mixes the IF local oscillator signal457 with an analog in-phase transmit input signal 460 and an analogquadrature transmit input signal 463 and provides an up-converted IFsignal 469 to the offset PLL circuitry 472.

The offset PLL circuitry 472 effectively filters the IF signal 469. Inother words, the offset PLL circuitry 472 passes through it signalswithin its bandwidth but attenuates other signals. In this manner, theoffset PLL circuitry 472 attenuates any spurious or noise signalsoutside its bandwidth, thus reducing the requirement for filtering atthe antenna 130, and reducing system cost, insertion loss, and powerconsumption. The offset PLL circuitry 472 forms a feedback loop with thetransmit VCO circuitry 481 via an offset PLL output signal 475 and atransmit VCO output signal 478. The transmit VCO circuitry 481preferably has a constant-amplitude output signal.

The offset PLL circuitry 472 uses a mixer (not shown explicitly in FIG.4) to mix the RF local oscillator signal 454 with the transmit VCOoutput signal 478. Power amplifier circuitry 487 accepts the transmitVCO output signal 478, and provides an amplified RF signal 490 to theantenna interface circuitry 202. The antenna interface circuitry 202 andthe antenna 130 operate as described above. RF transceivers according tothe invention preferably use transmitter circuitry 465 that comprisesanalog circuitry, as shown in FIG. 4. Using such circuitry minimizesinterference with the transmit VCO circuitry 481 and helps to meetemission specifications for the transmitter circuitry 465.

The receiver digital circuitry 426 also accepts the reference signal 220from the reference generator circuitry 218. The reference signal 220preferably comprises a clock signal. The receiver digital circuitry 426provides to the transmitter circuitry 465 a switched reference signal494 by using a switch 492. Thus, the switch 492 may selectively providethe reference signal 220 to the transmitter circuitry 465. Before the RFtransceiver enters its transmit mode, the receiver digital circuitry 426causes the switch 492 to close, thus providing the switched referencesignal 494 to the transmitter circuitry 465.

The transmitter circuitry 465 uses the switched reference signal 494 tocalibrate or adjust some of its components. For example, the transmittercircuitry 465 may use the switched reference signal 494 to calibratesome of its components, such as the transmit VCO circuitry 481, forexample, as described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,372,incorporated by reference here in its entirety. The transmittercircuitry 465 may also use the switched reference signal 494 to adjust avoltage regulator within its output circuitry so as to transmit at knownlevels of RF radiation or power.

While the transmitter circuitry 465 calibrates and adjusts itscomponents, the analog circuitry within the transmitter circuitry 465powers up and begins to settle. When the transmitter circuitry 465 hasfinished calibrating its internal circuitry, the receiver digitalcircuitry 426 causes the switch 492 to open, thus inhibiting the supplyof the reference signal 220 to the transmitter circuitry 465. At thispoint, the transmitter circuitry may power up the power amplifiercircuitry 487 within the transmitter circuitry 465. The RF transceiversubsequently enters the transmit mode of operation and proceeds totransmit.

Note that FIG. 4 depicts the switch 492 as a simple switch forconceptual, schematic purposes. One may use a variety of devices torealize the function of the controlled switch 492, for example,semiconductor switches, gates, or the like, as persons skilled in theart who have the benefit of the disclosure of the invention understand.Note also that, although FIG. 4 shows the switch 492 as residing withinthe receiver digital circuitry 426, one may locate the switch in otherlocations, as desired. Placing the switch 492 within the receiverdigital circuitry 426 helps to confine to the receiver digital circuitry426 the harmonics that result from the switching circuitry.

The embodiment 400 in FIG. 4 comprises a first circuit partition 407, orcircuit block, that includes the receiver analog circuitry 408 and thetransmitter circuitry 465. The embodiment 400 also includes a secondcircuit partition, or circuit block, that includes the receiver digitalcircuitry 426. Finally, the embodiment 400 includes a third circuitpartition, or circuit block, that comprises the local oscillatorcircuitry 222. The first circuit partition 407, the second circuitpartition, and the third circuit partition are partitioned from oneanother so that interference effects among the circuit partitions tendto be reduced. That arrangement tends to reduce the interference effectsamong the circuit partitions by relying on the analysis of interferenceeffects provided above in connection with FIG. 3. Preferably, the first,second, and third circuit partitions each reside within an integratedcircuit device. To further reduce interference effects among the circuitpartitions, the embodiment 400 in FIG. 4 uses differential signalswherever possible. The notation “(diff.)” adjacent to signal lines orreference numerals in FIG. 4 denotes the use of differential lines topropagate the annotated signals.

Note that the embodiment 400 shown in FIG. 4 uses ananalog-digital-analog signal path in its receiver section. In otherwords, the ADC circuitry 418 converts analog signals into digitalsignals for further processing, and later conversion back into analogsignals by the DAC circuitry 445. RF transceivers according to theinvention use this particular signal path for the following reasons.First, the ADC circuitry 418 obviates the need for propagating signalsfrom the receiver analog circuitry 408 to the receiver digital circuitry426 over an analog interface with a relatively high dynamic range. Thedigital interface comprising the one-bit in-phase digital receive signal421 and the one-bit quadrature digital receive signal 424 is lesssusceptible to the effects of noise and interference than would be ananalog interface with a relatively high dynamic range.

Second, the RF transceiver in FIG. 4 uses the DAC circuitry 445 tomaintain compatibility with interfaces commonly used to communicate withbaseband processor circuitry in RF transceivers. According to thoseinterfaces, the baseband processor accepts analog, rather than digital,signals from the receive path circuitry within the RF transceiver. In anRF transceiver that meets the specifications of those interfaces, thereceiver digital circuitry 426 would provide analog signals to thebaseband processor circuitry 120. The receiver digital circuitry 426uses the DAC circuitry 445 to provide analog signals (i.e., the in-phaseanalog receive signal 448 and the quadrature analog receive signal 451)to the baseband processor circuitry 120. The DAC circuitry 445 allowsprogramming the common-mode level and the full-scale voltage, which mayvary among different baseband processor circuitries.

Third, compared to an analog solution, the analog-digital-analog signalpath may result in reduced circuit size and area (for example, the areaoccupied within an integrated circuit device), thus lower cost. Fourth,the digital circuitry provides better repeatability, relative ease oftesting, and more robust operation than its analog counterpart. Fifth,the digital circuitry has less dependence on supply voltage variation,temperature changes, and the like, than does comparable analogcircuitry.

Sixth, the baseband processor circuitry 120 typically includesprogrammable digital circuitry, and may subsume the functionality of thedigital circuitry within the receiver digital circuitry 426, if desired.Seventh, the digital circuitry allows more precise signal processing,for example, filtering, of signals within the receive path. Eighth, thedigital circuitry allows more power-efficient signal processing.Finally, the digital circuitry allows the use of readily programmableDAC circuitry and PGA circuitry that provide for more flexibleprocessing of the signals within the receive path. To benefit from theanalog-digital-analog signal path, RF transceivers according to theinvention use a low-IF signal (for example, 100 KHz for GSMapplications) in their receive path circuitry, as using higher IFfrequencies may lead to higher performance demands on the ADC and DACcircuitry within that path. The low-IF architecture also easesimage-rejection requirements, and allows on-chip integration of thedigital filter circuitry 436. Moreover, RF transceivers according to theinvention use the digital down-converter circuitry 427 and the digitalfilter circuitry 436 to implement a digital-IF path in the receivesignal path. The digital-IF architecture facilitates the implementationof the digital interface between the receiver digital circuitry 426 andthe receiver analog circuitry 408.

If the receiver digital circuitry 426 need not be compatible with thecommon analog interface to baseband processors, one may remove the DACcircuitry 445 and use a digital interface to the baseband processorcircuitry 120, as desired. In fact, similar to the RF transceiver shownin FIG. 2D, one may realize the function of the receiver digitalcircuitry 426 within the baseband processor circuitry 120, usinghardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In thatcase, the RF transceiver would include two circuit partitions, orcircuit blocks. The first circuit partition, or circuit block, 407 wouldinclude the receiver analog circuitry 408 and the transmitter circuitry465. A second circuit partition, or circuit block, would comprise thelocal oscillator circuitry 222. Note also that, similar to the RFtransceiver shown in FIG. 2C, one may include within the basebandprocessor circuitry 120 the functionality of the reference generatorcircuitry 218, as desired.

One may partition the RF transceiver shown in FIG. 4 in other ways.FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate alternative partitioning of the RF transceiverof FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment 500 of an RF transceiver thatincludes three circuit partitions, or circuit blocks. A first circuitpartition includes the receiver analog circuitry 408. A second circuitpartition 505 includes the receiver digital circuitry 426 and thetransmitter circuitry 465. As noted above, the GSM specificationsprovide for alternate operation of RF transceivers in receive andtransmit modes. The partitioning shown in FIG. 5 takes advantage of theGSM specifications by including the receiver digital circuitry 426 andthe transmitter circuitry 465 within the second circuit partition 505. Athird circuit partition includes the local oscillator circuitry 222.Preferably, the first, second, and third circuit partitions each residewithin an integrated circuit device. Similar to embodiment 400 in FIG.4, the embodiment 500 in FIG. 5 uses differential signals whereverpossible to further reduce interference effects among the circuitpartitions.

FIG. 6 shows another alternative partitioning of an RF transceiver. FIG.6 shows an embodiment 600 of an RF transceiver that includes threecircuit partitions, or circuit blocks. A first circuit partition 610includes part of the receiver analog circuitry, i.e., the down-convertercircuitry 409, together with the transmitter circuitry 465. A secondcircuit partition 620 includes the ADC circuitry 418, together with thereceiver digital circuitry, i.e., the digital down-converter circuitry427, the digital filter circuitry 436, and the DAC circuitry 445. Athird circuit partition includes the local oscillator circuitry 222.Preferably, the first, second, and third circuit partitions each residewithin an integrated circuit device. Similar to embodiment 400 in FIG.4, the embodiment 600 in FIG. 6 uses differential signals whereverpossible to further reduce interference effects among the circuitpartitions.

FIG. 7 shows a variation of the RF transceiver shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7illustrates an embodiment 700 of an RF transceiver partitioned accordingto the invention. Note that, for the sake of clarity, FIG. 7 does notexplicitly show the details of the receiver analog circuitry 408, thetransmitter circuitry 465, and the receiver digital circuitry 426. Thereceiver analog circuitry 408, the transmitter circuitry 465, and thereceiver digital circuitry 426 include circuitry similar to those shownin their corresponding counterparts in FIG. 4. Similar to the RFtransceiver shown in FIG. 2D, the embodiment 700 in FIG. 7 shows an RFtransceiver in which the baseband processor 120 includes the function ofthe receiver digital circuitry 426. The baseband processor circuitry 120may realize the function of the receiver digital circuitry 426 usinghardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

Because the embodiment 700 includes the function of the receiver digitalcircuitry 426 within the baseband processor circuitry 120, it includestwo circuit partitions, or circuit blocks. A first circuit partition 710includes the receiver analog circuitry 408 and the transmitter circuitry465. A second circuit partition comprises the local oscillator circuitry222. Note also that, similar to the RF transceiver shown in FIG. 2C, onemay also include within the baseband processor circuitry 120 thefunctionality of the reference generator circuitry 218, as desired.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment 800 of a multi-band RF transceiver,partitioned according to the invention. Preferably, the RF transceiverin FIG. 8 operates within the GSM (925 to 960 MHz for reception and880-915 MHz for transmission), PCS (1930 to 1990 MHz for reception and1850-1910 MHz for transmission), and DCS (1805 to 1880 MHz for receptionand 1710-1785 MHz for transmission) bands. Like the RF transceiver inFIG. 4, the RF transceiver in FIG. 8 uses a low-IF architecture. Theembodiment 800 includes receiver analog circuitry 839, receiver digitalcircuitry 851, transmitter circuitry 877, local oscillator circuitry222, and reference generator circuitry 218. The local oscillatorcircuitry 222 includes RF phase-lock loop (PLL) circuitry 840 andintermediate-frequency (IF) PLL circuitry 843. The RF PLL circuitry 840produces the RF local oscillator, or RF LO, signal 454, whereas the IFPLL circuitry 843 produces the IF local oscillator, or IF LO, signal457.

Table 1 below shows the preferred frequencies for the RF localoscillator signal 454 during the receive mode:

TABLE 1 RF Local Oscillator Band Frequency (MHz) GSM 1849.8-1919.8 DCS1804.9-1879.9 PCS 1929.9-1989.9 All Bands 1804.9-1989.9

Table 2 below lists the preferred frequencies for the RF localoscillator signal 454 during the transmit mode:

TABLE 2 RF Local Oscillator Band Frequency (MHz) GSM 1279-1314 DCS1327-1402 PCS 1423-1483 All Bands 1279-1483

During the receive mode, the IF local oscillator signal 457 ispreferably turned off. In preferred embodiments, during the transmitmode, the IF local oscillator signal 457 preferably has a frequencybetween 383 MHz and 427 MHz. Note, however, that one may use otherfrequencies for the RF and IF local oscillator signals 454 and 457, asdesired.

The reference generator 218 provides a reference signal 220 thatpreferably comprises a clock signal, although one may use other signals,as persons skilled in the art who have the benefit of the description ofthe invention understand. Moreover, the transmitter circuitry 877preferably uses high-side injection for the GSM band and low-sideinjection for the DCS and PCS bands.

The receive path circuitry operates as follows. Filter circuitry 812accepts a GSM RF signal 803, a DCS RF signal 806, and a PCS RF signal809 from the antenna interface circuitry 202. The filter circuitry 812preferably contains a surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) filter for each of thethree bands, although one may use other types and numbers of filters, asdesired. The filter circuitry 812 provides a filtered GSM RF signal 815,a filtered DCS RF signal 818, and a filtered PCS RF signal 821 tolow-noise amplifier (LNA) circuitry 824. The LNA circuitry 824preferably has programmable gain, and in part provides for programmablegain in the receive path circuitry.

The LNA circuitry 824 provides an amplified RF signal 827 todown-converter circuitry 409. In exemplary embodiments according to theinvention, amplified RF signal 827 includes multiple signal lines, whichmay be differential signal lines, to accommodate the GSM, DCS, and PCSbands. Note that, rather than using the LNA circuitry with a realoutput, one may use an LNA circuitry that has complex outputs (in-phaseand quadrature outputs), together with a poly-phase filter circuitry.The combination of the complex LNA circuitry and the poly-phase filtercircuitry provides better image rejection, albeit with a somewhat higherloss. Thus, the choice of using the complex LNA circuitry and thepoly-phase filter circuitry depends on a trade-off between imagerejection and loss in the poly-phase filter circuitry.

The down-converter circuitry 409 mixes the amplified RF signal 827 withthe RF local oscillator signal 454, which it receives from the RF PLLcircuitry 840. The down-converter circuitry 409 produces the in-phaseanalog down-converted signal 412 and the quadrature in-phase analogdown-converted signal 415. The down-converter circuitry 409 provides thein-phase analog down-converted signal 412 and the quadrature in-phaseanalog down-converted signal 415 to a pair of programmable-gainamplifiers (PGAs) 833A and 833B.

The PGA 833A and PGA 833B in part allow for programming the gain of thereceive path. The PGA 833A and the PGA 833B supply an analog in-phaseamplified signal 841 and an analog quadrature amplified signal 842 tocomplex ADC circuitry 836 (i.e., both I and Q inputs will affect both Iand Q outputs). The ADC circuitry 836 converts the analog in-phaseamplified signal 841 into a one-bit in-phase digital receive signal 421.Likewise, the ADC circuitry 836 converts the analog quadrature amplifiersignal 842 into a one-bit quadrature digital receive signal 424.

Note that RF transceivers and receivers according to the inventionpreferably use a one-bit digital interface. One may, however, use avariety of other interfaces, as persons skilled in the art who have thebenefit of the description of the invention understand. For example, onemay use a multi-bit interface or a parallel interface. Moreover, asdescribed below, rather than, or in addition to, providing the one-bitin-phase and quadrature digital receive signals to the receiver digitalcircuitry 851, the digital interface between the receiver analogcircuitry 839 and the receiver digital circuitry 851 may communicatevarious other signals. By way of illustration, those signals may includereference signals (e.g., clock signals), control signals, logic signals,hand-shaking signals, data signals, status signals, information signals,flag signals, and/or configuration signals. Furthermore, the signals mayconstitute single-ended or differential signals, as desired. Thus, theinterface provides a flexible communication mechanism between thereceiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry.

The receiver digital circuitry 851 accepts the one-bit in-phase digitalreceive signal 421 and the one-bit quadrature digital receive signal424, and provides them to the digital down-converter circuitry 427. Thedigital down-converter circuitry 427 converts the received signals intoa down-converted in-phase signal 430 and a down-converted quadraturesignal 433 and provides those signals to the digital filter circuitry436. The digital filter circuitry 436 preferably comprises an IIRchannel-select filter that performs filtering operations on its inputsignals. Note, however, that one may use other types of filters, forexample, FIR filters, as desired.

The digital filter circuitry 436 provides the digital in-phase filteredsignal 439 to a digital PGA 863A and the digital quadrature filteredsignal 442 to a digital PGA 863B. The digital PGA 863A and PGA 863B inpart allow for programming the gain of the receive path circuitry. Thedigital PGA 863A supplies an amplified digital in-phase signal 869 toDAC circuitry 875A, whereas the digital PGA 863B supplies an amplifieddigital quadrature signal 872 to DAC circuitry 875B. The DAC circuitry875A converts the amplified digital in-phase signal 869 to the in-phaseanalog receive signal 448. The DAC circuitry 875B converts the amplifieddigital quadrature signal 872 signal into the quadrature analog receivesignal 451. The baseband processor circuitry 120 accepts the in-phaseanalog receive signal 448 and the quadrature analog receive signal 451for further processing, as desired.

Note that the digital circuit blocks shown in the receiver digitalcircuitry 851 depict mainly the conceptual functions and signal flow.The actual digital-circuit implementation may or may not containseparately identifiable hardware for the various functional blocks. Forexample, one may re-use (in time, for instance, by using multiplexing)the same digital circuitry to implement both digital PGA 863A anddigital PGA 863B, as desired.

Note also that, similar to the RF transceiver in FIG. 4, the RFtransceiver in FIG. 8 features a digital-IF architecture. The digital-IFarchitecture facilitates the implementation of the one-bit digitalinterface between the receiver digital circuitry 426 and the receiveranalog circuitry 408. Moreover, the digital-IF architecture allowsdigital (rather than analog) IF-filtering, thus providing all of theadvantages of digital filtering.

The transmitter circuitry 877 comprises baseband up-converter circuitry466, transmit VCO circuitry 481, a pair of transmitter output buffers892A and 892B, and offset PLL circuitry 897. The offset PLL circuitry897 includes offset mixer circuitry 891, phase detector circuitry 882,and loop filter circuitry 886. The baseband up-converter circuitry 466accepts the analog in-phase transmit input signal 460 and the analogquadrature transmit input signal 463, mixes those signals with the IFlocal oscillator signal 457, and provides a transmit IF signal 880 tothe offset PLL circuitry 897. The offset PLL circuitry 897 uses thetransmit IF signal 880 as a reference signal. The transmit IF signal 880preferably comprises a modulated single-sideband IF signal but, aspersons skilled in the art who have the benefit of the description ofthe invention understand, one may use other types of signal andmodulation, as desired.

The offset mixer circuitry 891 in the offset PLL circuitry 897 mixes thetransmit VCO output signal 478 with the RF local oscillator signal 454,and provides a mixed signal 890 to the phase detector circuitry 882. Thephase detector circuitry 882 compares the mixed signal 890 to thetransmit IF signal 880 and provides an offset PLL error signal 884 tothe loop filter circuitry 886. The loop filter circuitry 886 in turnprovides a filtered offset PLL signal 888 to the transmit VCO circuitry481. Thus, the offset PLL circuitry 897 and the transmit VCO circuitry481 operate in a feedback loop. Preferably, the output frequency of thetransmit VCO circuitry 481 centers between the DCS and PCS bands, andits output is divided by two for the GSM band.

Transmitter output buffers 892A and 892B receive the transmit VCO outputsignal 478 and provide buffered transmit signals 894 and 895 to a pairof power amplifiers 896A and 896B. The power amplifiers 896A and 896Bprovide amplified RF signals 899 and 898, respectively, for transmissionthrough antenna interface circuitry 202 and the antenna 130. Poweramplifier 896A provides the RF signal 899 for the GSM band, whereaspower amplifier 896B supplies the RF signal 898 for the DCS and PCSbands. Persons skilled in the art who have the benefit of thedescription of the invention, however, understand that one may use otherarrangements of power amplifiers and frequency bands. Moreover, one mayuse RF filter circuitry within the output path of the transmittercircuitry 877, as desired.

The embodiment 800 comprises three circuit partitions, or circuitblocks. A first circuit partition 801 includes the receiver analogcircuitry 839 and the transmitter circuitry 877. A second circuitpartition 854 includes the receiver digital circuitry 851 and thereference generator circuitry 218. Finally, a third circuit partitioncomprises the local oscillator circuitry 222. The first circuitpartition 801, the second circuit partition 854, and the third circuitpartition are partitioned from one another so that interference effectsamong the circuit partitions tend to be reduced. That arrangement tendsto reduce the interference effects among the circuit partitions becauseof the analysis of interference effects provided above in connectionwith FIG. 3. Preferably, the first, second, and third circuit partitionseach reside within an integrated circuit device. To further reduceinterference effects among the circuit partitions, the embodiment 800 inFIG. 8 uses differential signals wherever possible. The notation“(diff.)” adjacent to signal lines or reference numerals in FIG. 8denotes the use of differential lines to propagate the annotatedsignals.

Note that, similar to the RF transceiver shown in FIG. 4 and describedabove, the embodiment 800 shown in FIG. 8 uses an analog-digital-analogsignal path in its receiver section. The embodiment 800 uses thisparticular signal path for reasons similar to those described above inconnection with the transceiver shown in FIG. 4.

Like the transceiver in FIG. 4, if the receiver digital circuitry 851need not be compatible with the common analog interface to basebandprocessors, one may remove the DAC circuitry 875A and 875B, and use adigital interface to the baseband processor circuitry 120, as desired.In fact, similar to the RF transceiver shown in FIG. 2D, one may realizethe function of the receiver digital circuitry 851 within the basebandprocessor circuitry 120, using hardware, software, or a combination ofhardware and software. In that case, the RF transceiver would includetwo circuit partitions, or circuit blocks. The first circuit partition801 would include the receiver analog circuitry 839 and the transmittercircuitry 877. A second circuit partition would comprise the localoscillator circuitry 222. Note also that, similar to the RF transceivershown in FIG. 2C, in the embodiment 800, one may include within thebaseband processor circuitry 120 the functionality of the referencegenerator circuitry 218, as desired.

Another aspect of the invention includes a configurable interfacebetween the receiver digital circuitry and the receiver analogcircuitry. Generally, one would seek to minimize digital switchingactivity within the receiver analog circuitry. Digital switchingactivity within the receiver analog circuitry would potentiallyinterfere with the sensitive analog RF circuitry, for example, LNAs, ormixers. As described above, the receiver analog circuitry includesanalog-to-digital circuitry (ADC), which preferably comprisessigma-delta-type ADCs. Sigma-delta ADCs typically use a clock signal attheir output stages that generally has a pulse shape and, thus, containshigh-frequency Fourier series harmonics. Moreover, the ADC circuitryitself produces digital outputs that the receiver digital circuitryuses. The digital switching present at the outputs of the ADC circuitrymay also interfere with sensitive analog circuitry within the receiveranalog circuitry.

The invention contemplates providing RF apparatus according to theinvention, for example, receivers and transceivers, that include aninterface circuitry to minimize or reduce the effects of interferencefrom digital circuitry within the RF apparatus. FIG. 9A shows anembodiment 900A of an interface between the receiver digital circuitry905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910. The interface includesconfigurable interface signal lines 945. The baseband processorcircuitry 120 in the transceiver of FIG. 9A communicates configuration,status, and setup information with both the receiver digital circuitry905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910. In the preferred embodimentsof RF transceivers according to the invention, the baseband processorcircuitry 120 communicates with the receiver digital circuitry 905 andthe receiver analog circuitry 910 by sending configuration data to readand write registers included within the receiver digital circuitry 905and the receiver analog circuitry 910.

The receiver digital circuitry 905 communicates with the basebandprocessor circuitry 120 through a set of serial interface signal lines920. The serial interface signal lines 920 preferably include a serialdata-in (SDI) signal line 925, a serial clock (SCLK) signal line 930, aserial interface enable (SENB) signal line 935, and a serial data-out(SDO) signal line 940. The transceiver circuitry and the basebandprocessor circuitry 120 preferably hold all of the serial interfacesignal lines 920 at static levels during the transmit and receive modesof operation. The serial interface preferably uses a 22-bit serialcontrol word that comprises 6 address bits and 16 data bits. Note,however, that one may use other serial interfaces, parallel interfaces,or other types of interfaces, that incorporate different numbers ofsignal lines, different types and sizes of signals, or both, as desired.Note also that, the SENB signal is preferably an active-low logicsignal, although one may use a normal (i.e., an active-high) logicsignal by making circuit modifications, as persons skilled in the artunderstand.

The receiver digital circuitry 905 communicates with the receiver analogcircuitry 910 via configurable interface signal lines 945. Interfacesignal lines 945 preferably include four configurable signal lines 950,955, 960, and 965, although one may use other numbers of configurablesignal lines, as desired, depending on a particular application. Inaddition to supplying the serial interface signals 920, the basebandprocessor circuitry 120 provides a control signal 915, shown as apower-down (PDNB) signal in FIG. 9A, to both the receiver digitalcircuitry 905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910. The receiverdigital circuitry 905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910 preferablyuse the power-down (PDNB) signal as the control signal 915 to configurethe functionality of the interface signal lines 945. In other words, thefunctionality of the interface signal lines 945 depends on the state ofthe control signal 915. Also, the initialization of the circuitry withinthe receive path and the transmit path of the transceiver occurs uponthe rising edge of the PDNB signal. Note that the PDNB signal ispreferably an active-low logic signal, although one may use a normal(i.e., an active-high) logic signal, as persons skilled in the art wouldunderstand. Note also that, rather than using the PDNB signal, one mayuse other signals to control the configuration of the interface signallines 945, as desired.

In the power-down or serial interface mode (i.e., the control signal 915(for example, PDNB) is in the logic low state), interface signal line950 provides the serial clock (SCLK) and interface signal line 955supplies the serial interface enable signal (SENB). Furthermore,interface signal line 960 provides the serial data-in signal (SDI),whereas interface signal line 965 supplies the serial data-out (SDO)signal. One may devise other embodiments according to the invention inwhich, during this mode of operation, the transceiver may also performcircuit calibration and adjustment procedures, as desired (for example,the values of various transceiver components may vary over time or amongtransceivers produced in different manufacturing batches. Thetransceiver may calibrate and adjust its circuitry to take thosevariations into account and provide higher performance).

In the normal receive mode of operation (i.e., the control signal, PDNB,is in the logic-high state), interface signal line 950 provides anegative clock signal (CKN) and interface signal line 955 supplies thepositive clock signal (CKP). Furthermore, interface signal line 960provides a negative data signal (ION), whereas interface signal line 965supplies a positive data signal (IOP).

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the CKN and CKP signalstogether form a differential clock signal that the receiver digitalcircuitry 905 provides to the receiver analog circuitry 910. Thereceiver analog circuitry 910 may provide the clock signal to thetransmitter circuitry within the RF transceiver in order to facilitatecalibration and adjustment of circuitry, as described above. During thereceive mode, the receiver analog circuitry 910 provides the ION and IOPsignals to the receiver digital circuitry 905. The ION and IOP signalspreferably form a differential data signal. As noted above, thetransceiver disables the transmitter circuitry during the receive modeof operation.

In preferred embodiments according to the invention, clock signals CKNand CKP are turned off when the transmitter circuitry is transmittingsignals. During the transmit mode, interface signal lines 960 and 965preferably provide two logic signals from the receiver digital circuitry905 to the receiver analog circuitry 910. The signal lines may provideinput/output signals to communicate data, status, information, flag, andconfiguration signals between the receiver digital circuitry 905 and thereceiver analog circuitry 910, as desired. Preferably, the logic signalscontrol the output buffer of the transmit VCO circuitry. Note that,rather than configuring interface signal lines 960 and 965 as logicsignal lines, one may configure them in other ways, for example, analogsignal lines, differential analog or digital signal lines, etc., asdesired. Furthermore, the interface signal lines 960 and 965 may providesignals from the receiver digital circuitry 905 to the receiver analogcircuitry 910, or vice-versa, as desired.

In addition to using differential signals, RF transceivers according tothe invention preferably take other measures to reduce interferenceeffects among the various transceiver circuits. Signals CKN, CKP, ION,and IOP may constitute voltage signals, as desired. Depending on theapplication, the signals CKN, CKP, ION, and IOP (or logic signals in thetransmit mode) may have low voltage swings (for example, voltage swingssmaller than the supply voltage) to reduce the magnitude and effects ofinterference because of the voltage switching on those signals.

In preferred embodiments according to the invention, signals CKN, CKP,ION, and IOP constitute current, rather than voltage, signals. Moreover,to help reduce the effects of interference even further, RF transceiversaccording to the invention preferably use band-limited signals. RFtransceivers according to the invention preferably use filtering toremove some of the higher frequency harmonics from those signals toproduce band-limited current signals.

Table 3 below summarizes the preferred functionality of the configurableinterface signal lines 950, 955, 960, and 965 as a function of the stateof the control signal 915 (for example, PDNB):

TABLE 3 Control = 1 Control = 1 (During (During Signal Line Control = 0Reception) Transmission) 950 SCLK CKN (CKN off) 955 SENB CKP (CKP off)960 SDI ION Logic Signal 965 SDO IOP Logic Signal

Using configurable interface signal lines 945 in the interface betweenthe receiver digital circuitry 905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910allows using the same physical connections (e.g., pins on anintegrated-circuit device or electrical connectors on a module) toaccomplish different functionality. Thus, the configurable interfacebetween the receiver digital circuitry 905 and the receiver analogcircuitry 910 makes available the physical electrical connectionsavailable for other uses, for example, providing ground pins orconnectors around sensitive analog signal pins or connectors to helpshield those signals from RF interference. Moreover, the configurableinterface between the receiver digital circuitry 905 and the receiveranalog circuitry 910 reduces packaging size, cost, and complexity.

FIG. 9B shows an embodiment 900B that includes a configurable interfaceaccording to the invention. Here, the baseband processor circuitry 120subsumes the functionality of the receiver digital circuitry 905. Thebaseband processor circuitry 120 realizes the functionality of thereceiver digital circuitry 905, using hardware, software, or both, asdesired. Because the baseband processor circuitry 120 has subsumed thereceiver digital circuitry 905, the baseband processor circuitry 120 maycommunicate with the receiver analog circuitry 910 using configurableinterface signal lines 945, depending on the state of the control signal915 (e.g., the PDNB signal). The configurable interface signal lines 945perform the same functions described above in connection with FIG. 9A,depending on the state of the control signal 915. As noted above, onemay reconfigure the interface signal lines 960 and 965 during transmitmode to implement desired functionality, for example, logic signals.

FIG. 10 shows a conceptual block diagram of an embodiment 1000 of aconfigurable interface according to the invention within an RFtransceiver in the power-down or serial interface mode (i.e., thecontrol signal 915 is in a logic-low state). A logic low state on thecontrol signal 915 enables the driver circuitry 1012A, 1012B, and 1012C,thus providing the configurable serial interface signal lines 950, 955,and 960 to the receiver analog circuitry 910. Similarly, the logic lowstate on the control signal 915 causes the AND gates 1030A, 1030B, and1030C to provide configurable interface signal lines 950, 955, and 960to other circuitry within the receiver analog circuitry 910. The outputsof the AND gates 1030A, 1030B, and 1030C comprise a gated SCLK signal1032, a gated SENB signal 1034, and a gated SDI signal 1036,respectively.

Interface controller circuitry 1040 accepts as inputs the gated SCLKsignal 1032, the gated SENB signal 1034, and the gated SDI signal 1036.The interface controller circuitry 1040 resides within the receiveranalog circuitry 910 and produces a receiver analog circuitry SDO signal1044 and an enable signal 1046. By controlling tri-state drivercircuitry 1042, the enable signal 1046 controls the provision of thereceiver analog circuitry SDO signal 1044 to the receiver digitalcircuitry 905 via the configurable interface signal line 965.

Interface controller circuitry 1010 within the receiver digitalcircuitry 905 accepts the SCLK signal 925, the SENB signal 930, and theSDI signal 935 from the baseband processor circuitry 120. By decodingthose signals, the interface controller circuitry 1010 determineswhether the baseband processor circuitry 120 intends to communicate withthe receiver digital circuitry 905 (e.g., the baseband processorcircuitry 120 attempts to read a status or control register present onthe receiver digital circuitry 905). If so, the interface controllercircuitry 1010 provides the SCLK signal 925, the SENB signal 930, andthe SDI signal 935 to other circuitry (not shown explicitly) within thereceiver digital circuitry 905 for further processing.

Interface controller circuitry 1010 provides as output signals areceiver digital circuitry SDO signal 1018, a select signal 1020, and anenable signal 1022. The receiver digital circuitry SDO signal 1018represents the serial data-out signal for the receiver digital circuitry905, i.e., the serial data-out signal that the receiver digitalcircuitry 905 seeks to provide to the baseband processor circuitry 120.The interface controller circuitry 1010 supplies the select signal 1020to multiplexer circuitry 1014. The multiplexer circuitry 1014 uses thatsignal to selectively provide as the multiplexer circuitry output signal1024 either the receiver digital circuitry SDO signal 1018 or thereceiver analog circuitry SDO signal 1044, which it receives throughconfigurable interface signal line 965. Tri-state driver circuitry 1016provides the multiplexer circuitry output signal 1024 to the basebandprocessor circuitry 120 under the control of the enable signal 1022.

Tri-state driver circuitry 1012A, 1012B, and 1012C use an invertedversion of the control signal 915 as their enable signals. Thus, a logichigh value on the control signal 915 disables the driver circuitry1012A, 1012B, and 1012C, thus disabling the serial interface between thereceiver digital circuitry 905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910.Similarly, AND gates 1030A, 1030B, and 1030C use an inverted version ofthe control signal 915 to gate interface signal lines 950, 955, and 960.In other words, a logic high value on the control signal 915 inhibitslogic switching at the outputs of AND gates 1030A, 1030B, and 1030C,which reside on the receiver analog circuitry 910.

FIG. 11A shows a conceptual block diagram of an embodiment 1100A of aconfigurable interface according to the invention, in an RF transceiveroperating in the normal receive mode of operation (i.e., the controlsignal 915 is in a logic-high state). As noted above, in this mode, thereceiver digital circuitry 905 provides a clock signal to the receiveranalog circuitry 910 through the configurable interface signal lines 950and 955. Configurable interface signal line 950 provides the CKN signal,whereas configurable interface signal line 955 supplies the CKP signal.Also in this mode, the receiver analog circuitry 910 provides a datasignal to the receiver digital circuitry 905 through the configurableinterface signal lines 960 and 965.

The receiver digital circuitry 905 provides the CKN and CKP signals tothe receiver analog circuitry 910 by using clock driver circuitry 1114.The clock driver circuitry 1114 receives a clock signal 1112A and acomplement clock signal 1112B from signal processing circuitry 1110.Signal processing circuitry 1110 receives the reference signal 220 andconverts it to the clock signal 1112A and complement clock signal 1112B.Interface controller circuitry 1116 provides an enable signal 1118 thatcontrols the provision of the CKN and CKP clock signals to the receiveranalog circuitry 910 via the interface signal lines 950 and 955,respectively.

Receiver analog circuitry 910 includes clock receiver circuitry 1130that receives the CKN and CKP clock signals and provides a clock signal1132A and a complement clock signal 1132B. Interface controllercircuitry 1140 within the receiver analog circuitry 910 provides anenable signal 1142 that controls the operation of the clock receivercircuitry 1130.

The clock signal 1132A clocks the ADC circuitry 1144, or other circuitry(for example, calibration circuitry), or both, as desired. Note that,rather than using the clock signal 1132A, one may use the complementclock signal 1132B, or both the clock signal 1132A and the complementclock signal 1132B, by making circuit modifications as persons skilledwho have the benefit of the description of the invention understand. TheADC circuitry 1144 provides to multiplexer circuitry 1150 a one-bitdifferential in-phase digital signal 1146A and a one-bit differentialquadrature digital signal 1146B. The multiplexer circuitry 1150 providesa one-bit differential digital output signal 1152 to data drivercircuitry 1154. The output signal 1152 therefore constitutes multiplexedI-channel data and Q-channel data. The data driver circuitry 1154supplies the differential data signal comprising ION and IOP to thereceiver digital circuitry 905, using the configurable interface signallines 960 and 965, respectively.

The clock signal 1132A also acts as the select signal of multiplexercircuitry 1150. On alternating edges of the clock signal 1132A, themultiplexer circuitry 1150 selects, and provides to, the data drivercircuitry 1154 the one-bit differential in-phase digital signal 1146A(i.e., I-channel data) and the one-bit differential quadrature digitalsignal 1146B (i.e., Q-channel data). The interface controller circuitry1140 supplies an enable signal 1156 to the data driver circuitry 1154that controls the provision of the configurable interface signal 960 andthe configurable interface signal 965 to the receiver digital circuitry905 via the configurable interface signal lines 960 and 965.

The receiver digital circuitry 905 includes data receiver circuitry1120. Data receiver circuitry 1120 accepts from the receiver analogcircuitry 910 the signals provided via the configurable interface signallines 960 and 965. The data receiver circuitry 1120 provides a pair ofoutputs 1122A and 1122B. An enable signal 1124, supplied by theinterface controller circuitry 1116, controls the operation of the datareceiver circuitry 1120.

The receiver digital circuitry 905 also includes a delay-cell circuitry1119 that accepts as its inputs the clock signal 1112A and thecomplement clock signal 1112B. The delay-cell circuitry 1119 constitutesa delay-compensation circuit. In other words, ideally, thesignal-propagation delay of the delay-cell circuitry 1119 compensatesfor the delays the signals experience as they propagate from thereceiver digital circuitry 905 to the receiver analog circuitry 910, andback to the receiver digital circuitry 905.

The delay-cell circuitry 1119 provides as its outputs a clock signal1121A and a complement clock signal 1121B. The clock signal 1121A andthe complement clock signal 1121B clock a pair of D flip-flopcircuitries 1123A and 1123B, respectively. The D flip-flop circuitries1123A and 1123B latch the output 1122A of the data receiver circuitry1120 alternately. In other words, the clock signal 1121A causes thelatching of the I-channel data by the D flip-flop circuitry 1123A,whereas the complement clock signal 1121B causes the D flip-flopcircuitry 1123B to latch the Q-channel data.

The output signals of the delay-cell circuitry 1119 help the receiverdigital circuitry 905 to sample the I-channel data and the Q-channeldata that it receives from the receiver analog circuitry 910. Thereceiver digital circuitry 905 receives multiplexed I-channel data andthe Q-channel data through the ION signal 960 and the IOP signal 965.Thus, the D flip-flop circuitries 1123A and 1123B perform ade-multiplexing function on the multiplexed I-channel data and Q-channeldata.

In the normal receive or transmit modes, (i.e., the control signal 915is in the logic-high state), interface signal line 950 provides thenegative clock signal (CKN) and interface signal line 955 supplies thepositive clock signal (CKP). In preferred embodiments of the invention,the CKN and CKP signals together form a differential clock signal thatthe receiver digital circuitry 905 provides to the receiver analogcircuitry 910.

During the receive mode, interface signal line 960 provides the negativedata signal (ION), whereas interface signal line 965 supplies thepositive data signal (IOP). The ION and IOP signals preferably form adifferential data signal.

In the transmit mode, the data signal may function as an input/outputsignal to communicate data, status, information, flag, and/orconfiguration signals between the receiver digital circuitry 905 and thereceiver analog circuitry 910. Preferably, the interface signal lines960 and 965 function as two logic signal lines in the transmit mode. Asnoted above, the transceiver disables the receiver circuitry during thetransmit mode of operation. In RF transceivers partitioned according tothe invention (see, e.g., FIGS. 2A-2D, 4, and 8), the clock receivercircuitry 1130 may provide the clock signal 1132A, the complement clocksignal 1132B, or both, to transmitter circuitry (partitioned togetherwith the receiver analog circuitry 910) for circuit calibration, circuitadjustment, and the like, as described above.

In the transmit mode, once circuit calibration and adjustment hasconcluded, however, the clock driver circuitry 1114 uses the enablesignal 1118 to inhibit the propagation of the CKN and CKP clock signalsto the receiver analog circuitry 910. In this manner, the clock drivercircuitry 1114 performs the function of the switch 492 in FIGS. 4 and 8.Note that, during the normal transmit mode of operation, the ADCcircuitry 1144 does not provide any data to the receiver digitalcircuitry 905 via the ION and IOP signals because, according to the TDDprotocol, the receiver path circuitry is inactive during the normaltransmit mode of operation. Instead, the receiver digital circuitry 905provides control signals to the receiver analog circuitry 910 viainterface signal lines 960 and 965.

During the transmit mode, the interface controller circuitry 1116provides control signals via signal lines 1160 to the interface signallines 960 and 965. The interface controller circuitry 1140 receives thecontrol signals via signal lines 1165 and provides them to variousblocks within the receiver analog circuitry, as desired. During thereceive mode, the interface controller circuitry 1116 inhibits (e.g.,high-impedance state) the signal lines 1160. Similarly, the interfacecontroller circuitry 1140 inhibits the signal lines 1165 during thereceive mode.

For the purpose of conceptual illustration, FIG. 11A shows the interfacecontroller circuitry 1116 and the interface controller circuitry 1140 astwo blocks of circuitry distinct from the interface controller circuitry1010 and the interface controller circuitry 1040 in FIG. 10,respectively. One may combine the functionality of the interfacecontroller circuitry 1116 with the functionality of the interfacecontroller circuitry 1010, as desired. Likewise, one may combine thefunctionality of interface controller circuitry 1140 with thefunctionality of the interface controller circuitry 1040, as desired.Moreover, one may combine the functionality of the signal processingcircuitries 1110 with the functionality of the interface controllercircuitry 1116 and the interface controller circuitry 1140,respectively. Combining the functionality of those circuits depends onvarious design and implementation choices, as persons skilled in the artunderstand.

FIG. 11B illustrates a block diagram of a preferred embodiment 1100B ofa delay-cell circuitry 1119 according to the invention. The delay-cellcircuitry 1119 includes a replica of the clock driver circuitry 1114A intandem with a replica of the data receiver circuitry 1120A. In otherwords, the block labeled “1114A” is a replica of the clock drivercircuitry 1114, and the block labeled “1120A” is a replica of the datareceiver circuitry 1120. (Note that the delay-cell circuitry 1119 mayalternatively include a replica of the data driver circuitry 1154 intandem with a replica of the clock receiver circuitry 1130.) The replicaof the clock driver circuitry 1114A accepts the clock signal 1112A andthe complement clock signal 1112B. The replica of the clock drivercircuitry 1114A provides its outputs to the replica of the data receivercircuitry 1120A. The replica of the data receiver circuitry 1120Asupplies the clock signal 1121A and the complement clock signal 1121B.The clock signal 1121A and the complement clock signal 1121B constitutethe output signals of the delay-cell circuitry 1119. The delay-cellcircuitry 1119 also receives as inputs enable signals 1118 and 1124(note that FIG. 11A does not show those input signals for the sake ofclarity). The enable signal 1118 couples to the replica of the clockdriver circuitry 1114A, whereas the enable signal 1124 couples to thereplica of the data receiver circuitry 1120A.

Note that FIG. 11B constitutes a conceptual block diagram of thedelay-cell circuitry 1119. Rather than using distinct blocks 1114A and1120A, one may alternatively use a single block that combines thefunctionality of those two blocks, as desired. Moreover, one may use acircuit that provides an adjustable, rather than fixed, delay, asdesired. Note also that the embodiment 1100B of the delay-cell circuitry1119 preferably compensates for the delay in the clock driver circuitry1114 in FIG. 11A. In other words, the delay-cell circuitry 1119preferably compensates sufficiently for the round-trip delay in thesignals that travel from the receiver digital circuitry 905 to thereceiver analog circuitry 910 and back to the receiver digital circuitry905 to allow for accurate sampling in the receiver digital circuitry ofthe I-channel data and the Q-channel data. Note that in the embodiment1100B, the replica of the clock driver circuitry 1114A mainlycompensates for the round-trip delay, whereas the replica of the datareceiver circuitry 1120A converts low-swing signals at the output of thereplica of the clock driver circuitry 1114A into full-swing signals.

The receiver digital circuitry 905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910preferably reside within separate integrated-circuit devices. Becausethose integrated-circuit devices typically result from separatesemiconductor fabrication processes and manufacturing lines, theirprocess parameters may not match closely. As a result, the preferredembodiment 1100B of the delay-cell circuitry 1119 does not compensatefor the delay in the clock receiver circuitry 1130, the data drivercircuitry 1154, and the data receiver circuitry 1120 in FIG. 11A.

Note, however, that if desired, the delay-cell circuitry 1119 may alsocompensate for the signal delays of the clock receiver circuitry 1130,the data driver circuitry 1154, and the data receiver circuitry 1120.Thus, in situations where one may match the process parameters of thereceiver digital circuitry 905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910relatively closely (for example, by using thick-film modules,silicon-on-insulator, etc.), the delay-cell circuitry 1119 may alsocompensate for the delays of other circuit blocks. As anotheralternative, one may use a delay-cell circuitry 1119 that provides anadjustable delay and then program the delay based on the delays in thereceiver digital circuitry 905 and the receiver analog circuitry 910(e.g., provide a matched set of receiver digital circuitry 905 andreceiver analog circuitry 910), as persons skilled in the art who havethe benefit of the description of the invention understand. Furthermore,rather than an open-loop arrangement, one may use a closed-loop feedbackcircuit implementation (e.g., by using a phase-locked loop circuitry) tocontrol and compensate for the delay between the receiver analogcircuitry 910 and the receiver digital circuitry 905, as desired.

Note that the digital circuit blocks shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B depictmainly the conceptual functions and signal flow. The actual circuitimplementation may or may not contain separately identifiable hardwarefor the various functional blocks. For example, one may combine thefunctionality of various circuit blocks into one circuit block, asdesired.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment 1200 of asignal-driver circuitry according to the invention. One may use thesignal-driver circuitry as the clock driver circuitry 1114 and the datadriver circuitry 1154 in FIG. 11A. In the latter case, the input signalsto the signal-driver circuitry constitute the output signals 1152 andthe enable signal 1156, whereas the output signals of thesignal-receiver circuitry constitute the ION and IOP signals 960 and965, respectively, in FIG. 11A.

The signal-driver circuitry in FIG. 12 constitutes two circuit legs. Onecircuit leg includes MOSFET devices 1218 and 1227 and resistor 1230. Thesecond leg includes MOSFET devices 1242 and 1248 and resistor 1251. Theinput clock signal controls MOSFET devices 1218 and 1242. Current source1206, MOSFET devices 1209 and 1215, and resistor 1212 provide biasingfor the two circuit legs.

MOSFET devices 1227 and 1248 drive the CKN and CKP output terminalsthrough resistors 1230 and 1251, respectively. Depending on the state ofthe clock signal, one leg of the signal-driver circuitry conducts morecurrent than the other leg. Put another way, the signal-driver circuitrysteers current from one leg to the other in response to the clock signal(i.e., in response to the clock signal, one leg of the circuit turns onand the other leg turns off, and vice-versa). As a result, thesignal-driver circuitry provides a differential clock signal thatincludes current signals CKN and CKP.

If the enable signal is high, MOSFET device 1203 is off and thereforedoes not affect the operation of the rest of the circuit. In that case,a current I_(o) flows through the current source 1206 anddiode-connected MOSFET device 1209. The flow of current generates avoltage at the gate of MOSFET device 1209. MOSFET devices 1227 and 1248share the same gate connection with MOSFET device 1209. Thus, MOSFETdevices 1227 and 1248 have the same gate-source voltage, V_(gs), asMOSFET device 1209 when the appropriate MOSFET devices are in the onstate.

MOSFET devices 1218 and 1242 cause current steering between the firstand second circuit legs. Only one of the MOSFET devices 1218 and 1242 isin the on state during the operation of the circuit. Depending on whichMOSFET device is in the on state, the mirroring current I_(o) flowsthrough the circuit leg that includes the device in the on state.

Resistors 1221 and 1239 provide a small trickle current to the circuitleg that includes the MOSFET device (i.e., MOSFET device 1218 or MOSFETdevice 1242) that is in the off state. The small trickle currentprevents the diode-connected MOSFET devices in the signal receivercircuitry (see FIG. 13) from turning off completely. The trickle currenthelps to reduce the delay in changing the state of the circuit inresponse to transitions in the input clock signal. The trickle currentsalso help to reduce transient signals at the CKP and CKN terminals and,thus, reduce interference effects.

Capacitors 1224 and 1245 provide filtering so that when MOSFET device1218 and MOSFET device 1242 switch states, the currents through thefirst and second circuit legs (CKN and CKP circuit legs) do not changerapidly. Thus, capacitors 1224 and 1245 reduce the high-frequencycontent in the currents flowing through the circuit legs into the CKNand CKP terminals. The reduced high-frequency (i.e., band-limited)content of the currents flowing through the CKN and CKP terminals helpsreduce interference effects to other parts of the circuit, for example,the LNA circuitries, as described above. Capacitors 1233 and 1236 andresistors 1230 and 1251 help to further reduce the high-frequencycontent of the currents flowing through the CKN and CKP terminals. Thus,the circuit in FIG. 12 provides smooth steering of current between thetwo circuit legs and therefore reduces interference effects with othercircuitry.

When the enable signal goes to the low state, MOSFET device 1203 turnson and causes MOSFET device 1209 to turn off. MOSFET devices 1227 and1248 also turn off, and the circuit becomes disabled. Note that theenable signal may be derived from the power-down PDNB signal.

FIG. 13A shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment 1300A of asignal-receiver circuitry according to the invention. One may use thesignal-receiver circuitry as the clock receiver circuitry 1130 and thedata receiver circuitry 1120 in FIG. 11A. In the latter case, the inputsignals to the signal-receiver circuitry constitute the ION and IOPsignals 960 and 965 and the enable signal 1124, whereas the outputsignals constitute the signals at the outputs 1122A and 1122B,respectively, in FIG. 11A.

The signal receiver circuitry in FIG. 13A helps to convert differentialinput currents into CMOS logic signals. The signal-receiver circuitry inFIG. 13A constitutes two circuit legs. The first circuit leg includesMOSFET devices 1303, 1342, and 1345. The second leg includes MOSFETdevices 1309, 1324, and 1327. Note that, preferably, the scaling ofMOSFET devices 1303 and 1309 provides a current gain of 1:2 betweenthem. Likewise, the scaling of MOSFET devices 1330 and 1327 preferablyprovides a current gain of 1:2 between them. The current gains help toreduce phase noise in the signal-receiver circuitry.

MOSFET devices 1339, 1342, 1333, and 1324 provide enable capability forthe circuit. When the enable input is in the high state, MOSFET devices1339, 1342, 1333, and 1324 are in the on state. MOSFET devices 1345 and1336 are current mirrors, as are MOSFET devices 1303 and 1309. MOSFETdevices 1330 and 1327 also constitute current mirrors.

The currents flowing through the CKN and CKP terminals mirror to theMOSFET devices 1327 and 1309. The actual current flowing through thesecond circuit leg depends on the currents that MOSFET device 1327 andMOSFET device 1309 try to conduct; the lower of the two currentsdetermines the actual current that flows through the second circuit leg.

The difference between the currents that MOSFET device 1327 and MOSFETdevice 1309 try to conduct flows through the parasitic capacitance atnode 1360. The current flow charges or discharges the capacitance atnode 1360, thus making smaller the drain-source voltage (V_(ds)) ofwhichever of MOSFET devices 1327 and 1309 that seeks to carry the highercurrent. Ultimately, the lower of the currents that MOSFET devices 1327and 1309 seek to conduct determines the current through the second legof the circuit.

A pair of inverters 1312 and 1315 provide true and complement outputsignals 1351 and 1348, respectively. The signal receiver circuitrytherefore converts differential input currents into CMOS logic outputsignals.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the signal receiver circuitryprovides fully differential output signals. FIG. 13B shows an embodiment1300B of such a signal receiver circuitry. One may use embodiment 1300Bin a similar manner and application as embodiment 1300A, using the sameinput signals, as desired. Unlike embodiment 1300A, however, embodiment1300B includes fully differential circuitry to generate fullydifferential output signals.

Embodiment 1300B includes the same devices as does embodiment 1300A, andthe common devices operate in a similar manner. Furthermore, embodiment1300B includes additional devices and components. Embodiment 1300Bconstitutes two circuit legs and replica of those circuit legs. Thefirst circuit leg includes MOSFET devices 1303, 1342, and 1345. Thereplica of the first circuit leg includes devices 1355, 1379, and 1381.The second circuit leg includes MOSFET devices 1309, 1324, and 1327. Thereplica of the second circuit leg include devices 1357, 1363, and 1365.The scaling of MOSFET devices 1303 and 1309 provides a current gain of1:2 between them, as does the scaling of MOSFET devices 1330 and 1327.Likewise, scaling of MOSFET devices 1355 and 1357 provides a currentgain of 1:2 between them, as does the scaling of MOSFET devices 1336 and1365. The current gains help to reduce phase noise in thesignal-receiver circuitry.

Embodiment 1300B generally operates similarly to embodiment 1300A.Devices 1381, 1379, 1355, 1353, 1357, 1363, 1365, 1367, 1369, 1359, and1361 perform the same functions as do devices 1345, 1342, 1303, 1306,1309, 1324, 1327, 1321, 1318, 1312, and 1315, respectively. The enablefunction also operates similarly to embodiment 1300A. Resistors 1371 and1375 and capacitors 1373 and 1377 filter the input clock (e.g., 13 MHzclock). Inverters 1312, 1315, 1361, and 1359 provide fully differentialtrue and complement output signals.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment 1400 of an alternative signal-drivercircuitry according to the invention. The signal-driver circuitry inFIG. 14 includes two circuit legs. The first circuit leg includes MOSFETdevice 1406 and resistor 1415A. The second circuit leg includes MOSFETdevice 1409 and resistor 1415B. A current source 1403 supplies currentto the two circuit legs.

The input clock signal controls MOSFET devices 1406 and 1409. MOSFETdevices 1406 and 1409 drive the CKP and CKN output terminals,respectively. Depending on the state of the clock signal, one leg of thesignal-driver circuitry conducts current. Put another way, thesignal-driver circuitry steers current from one leg to the other inresponse to the clock signal. As a result, the signal-driver circuitryprovides a differential clock signal that includes signals CKN and CKP.Capacitor 1412 filters the output signals CKN and CKP. Put another way,capacitor 1412 provides band-limiting of the output signals CKN and CKP.Note that the current source 1403 supplies limited-amplitude signals byproviding current through resistors 1415A and 1415B.

Note that the signal-driver circuitries (clock driver and data drivercircuitries) according to the invention preferably provide currentsignals CKN and CKP. Similarly, signal-receiver circuitries (clockreceiver and data receiver circuitries) according to the inventionpreferably receive current signals. As an alternative, one may usesignal-driver circuitries that provide as their outputs voltage signals,as desired. One may also implement signal-receiver circuitries thatreceive voltage signals, rather than current signals. As noted above,depending on the application, one may limit the frequency contents ofthose voltage signals, for example, by filtering, as desired.

Generally, several techniques exist for limiting noise, for example,digital switching-noise, in the interface between the receiver analogcircuitry and the receiver digital circuitry according to the invention.Those techniques include using differential signals, using band-limitedsignals, and using amplitude-limited signals. RF apparatus according tothe invention may use any or all of those techniques, as desired.Furthermore, one may apply any or all of those techniques to interfacecircuitry that employs voltage or current signals, as persons ofordinary skill in the art who have the benefit of the description of theinvention understand.

Note also that the RF transceiver embodiments according to the inventionlend themselves to various choices of circuit implementation, as aperson skilled in the art who have the benefit of the description of theinvention understand. For example, as noted above, each of the circuitpartitions, or circuit blocks, of RF transceivers partitioned accordingto the invention, resides preferably within an integrated circuitdevice. Persons skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that thecircuit partitions, or circuit blocks, may alternatively reside withinother substrates, carriers, or packaging arrangements. By way ofillustration, other partitioning arrangements may use modules, thin-filmmodules, thick-film modules, isolated partitions on a single substrate,circuit-board partitions, and the like, as desired, consistent with theembodiments of the invention described here.

One aspect of the invention contemplates partitioning RF transceiversdesigned to operate within several communication channels (e.g., GSM,PCS, and DCS). Persons skilled in the art, however, will recognize thatone may partition according to the invention RF transceivers designed tooperate within one or more other channels, frequencies, or frequencybands, as desired.

Moreover, the partitioning of RF transceivers according to the inventionpreferably applies to RF apparatus (e.g., receivers or transceivers)with a low-IF, digital-IF architecture. Note, however, that one mayapply the partitioning and interfacing concepts according to theinvention to other RF receiver or transceiver architectures andconfigurations, as persons of ordinary skill in the art who have thebenefit of the description of the invention understand. By way ofillustration, one may use the partitioning and interface conceptsaccording to the invention in RF apparatus that includes:

-   -   low-IF receiver circuitry;    -   low-IF receiver circuitry and offset-PLL transmitter circuitry;    -   low-IF receiver circuitry and direct up-conversion transmitter        circuitry;    -   direct-conversion receiver circuitry;    -   direct-conversion receiver circuitry and offset-PLL transmitter        circuitry; or    -   direct-conversion receiver circuitry and direct up-conversion        transmitter circuitry.

As an example of the flexibility of the partitioning concepts accordingto the invention, one may include the LO circuitry in one partition, thereceiver digital circuitry in a second partition, and the transmitterup-converter circuitry and the receiver analog circuitry in a thirdpartition. As another illustrative alternative, one may include the LOcircuitry and the transmitter up-converter circuitry within one circuitpartition, depending on the noise and interference characteristics andspecifications for a particular implementation.

Note that, in a typical direct-conversion RF receiver or transceiverimplementation, the receiver digital circuitry would not include thedigital down-converter circuitry (the receiver analog circuitry,however, would be similar to the embodiments described above).Furthermore, in a typical direct up-conversion transmitter circuitry,one would remove the offset PLL circuitry and the transmit VCO circuitryfrom the transmitter circuitry. The LO circuitry would supply the RF LOsignal to the up-conversion circuitry of the transmitter circuitry,rather than the offset-PLL circuitry. Also, in a direct up-conversionimplementation, the LO circuitry typically does not provide an IF LOsignal.

Furthermore, as noted above, one may use the partitioning and interfaceconcepts according to the invention not only in RF transceivers, butalso in RF receivers for high-performance applications. In such RFreceivers, one may partition the receiver as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D and4-8, and as described above. In other words, the RF receiver may have afirst circuit partition that includes the receiver analog circuitry, anda second circuit partition that includes the receiver digital circuitry.

The RF receiver may also use the digital interface between the receiveranalog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry, as desired. Byvirtue of using the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digitalcircuitry described above, the RF receiver features a low-IF, digital-IFarchitecture. In addition, as noted above with respect to RFtransceivers according to the invention, depending on performancespecifications and design goals, one may include all or part of thelocal oscillator circuitry within the circuit partition that includesthe receiver analog circuitry, as desired. Partitioning RF receiversaccording to the invention tends to reduce the interference effectsbetween the circuit partitions.

As noted above, although RF apparatus according to the invention use aserial interface between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiverdigital circuitry, one may use other types of interface, for example,parallel interfaces, that incorporate different numbers of signal lines,different types and sizes of signals, or both, as desired. Moreover, theclock driver circuitries and the data driver circuitries may generallyconstitute signal-driver circuitries that one may use in a variety ofdigital interfaces between the receiver analog circuitry and thereceiver digital circuitry according to the invention.

Likewise, the clock receiver circuitries and data receiver circuitriesmay generally constitute signal-receiver circuitries that one may use ina variety of digital interfaces between the receiver analog circuitryand the receiver digital circuitry according to the invention. In otherwords, one may use signal-driver circuitries and signal-receivercircuitries to implement a wide variety of digital interfaces, aspersons of ordinary skill who have the benefit of the description of theinvention understand.

As described above in detail, RF apparatus (such as receivers andtransceivers) perform some of the processing of the input RF signal inthe digital domain and provide resulting digital signals, for example,to a baseband processor circuitry. The receiver digital circuitryaccording to the invention, such as receiver digital circuitry shown inFIGS. 2 and 4-8, performs several tasks as described below in detail.

First, in certain interfaces where the baseband processor circuitryaccepts analog signals, the receiver digital circuitry may convert theprocessed digital signals to analog output signals, as desired. Second,the receiver digital circuitry translates the signal spectrum from anintermediate frequency to baseband (i.e., centered around zero frequencyor DC). Third, the receiver digital circuitry applies a programmablegain to the processed signals so that the amplitude of its outputsignals falls within a certain range suitable for the baseband processorcircuitry, as desired. Fourth, the receiver digital circuitry removesresidual DC offsets that result from non-ideal circuit behavior in thereceiver analog circuitry. The removal of the residual DC offsetsaccording to the invention operates in the presence of interferencesignals (e.g., interferers and blockers) and the desired signal. Fifth,the receiver digital circuitry filters out undesired energy present inits input signals.

The undesired energy may originate from a number of sources, such as thequantization noise of the ADC circuitry in the receiver analog circuitry(see FIGS. 2 and 4-8 and their respective discussions), and RF noise andspurious signals. The undesired RF energy may fall within the signalband of interest, as well as outside of it.

The RF noise and spurious signals include interferers and blockers. GSMspecification provide a for a channel spacing of 200 kHz. An interfererconstitutes a signal in the desired signal band of interest that resultsfrom another GSM user's operation of RF apparatus that inject energywithin the RF spectrum. Blockers refer to spurious RF signals thatoriginate from apparatus that operates outside or inside the GSM band.Blockers may result from other RF apparatus, such as military radios,global positioning satellite (GPS) systems, and other users of theelectromagnetic spectrum. The digital filter circuitry in the receiverdigital circuitry filters and attenuates energy from interferers andblockers.

The quantization noise of the ADC circuitry constitutes another sourceof undesired energy. Exemplary embodiments of RF apparatus according tothe invention include measures that aim to reduce interference with thedesired signal by the quantization noise of the ADC circuitry. FIG. 15shows a typical plot of the spectrum of the signal of interest thatconstitutes part of the output signal of the receiver analog circuitry.As noted above, exemplary embodiments of the invention employ a 100 kHzIF frequency. In FIG. 15, the spectrum of the signal of interest spans a200 kHz band of frequencies from DC to +200 kHz. The spectrum centersaround the IF frequency, f_(IF). The quantization noise of the ADCcircuitry appears mainly below DC and above 200 kHz.

To reduce interference with the desired signal band, the sigma-delta ADCcircuitry in exemplary embodiments of RF apparatus according to theinvention employ noise-shaping techniques. The noise-shaping techniquesshape the characteristics of the quantization noise of the ADC circuitryso as to move the quantization noise out of the signal band of interest,e.g., DC to 200 kHz. FIG. 16 shows a typical plot of the quantizationnoise power density for the ADC circuitry in exemplary embodiments ofthe invention. Note that the quantization noise within the signal bandof interest is several orders of magnitude lower than outside the signalband of interest.

As noted above, sigma-delta ADC circuitry provide one-bit digitaloutputs to the receiver digital circuitry. Those output signalsconstitute over-sampled digital signals. Typically, reducingquantization noise results from using more resolution (i.e., more bits)in the ADC circuitry. By using sigma-delta ADC circuitry, however, RFapparatus according to the invention spectrally shape the quantizationnoise so that it occupies frequency bands outside the signal band ofinterest, as persons skilled in the art who read this disclosure willunderstand.

Once it has received the one-bit in-phase and quadrature signals fromthe receiver analog circuitry, the receiver digital circuitry performssignal processing operations on those signals. FIGS. 17A and 17B showmore detailed conceptual or functional block diagrams of exemplaryembodiments of receiver digital circuitry according to the invention.Note that one may use either of receiver digital circuitry in FIG. 17Aor the receiver digital circuitry in FIG. 17B as the receiver digitalcircuitries shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-8. FIG. 17A illustrates a conceptualor functional block diagram of a receiver digital circuitry thatincludes a cascade of digital down-converter 427, digital filtercircuitry 436, and optional DAC circuitry 445 (for interfacing tobaseband processor circuitries that accept analog input signals, asdescribed above). IF LO circuitry 1715 couples to digital down-convertercircuitry 427 and provides IF LO in-phase signal 1718 and IF LOquadrature signal 1721 to the digital down-converter circuitry 427.

The digital filter circuitry 436 includes cascaded integrator/comb (CIC)filter circuitry 1705A, secondary filter circuitry 1710A, CIC filtercircuitry 1705B, and secondary filter circuitry 1710B. CIC filtercircuitry 1705A and secondary filter circuitry 1710A provide thein-phase signal path within the digital filter circuitry 436. Similarly,CIC filter circuitry 1705B and secondary filter circuitry 1710B providethe quadrature signal path within the digital filter circuitry 436.

FIG. 17B shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of anotherreceiver digital circuitry according to the invention. The receiverdigital circuitry in FIG. 17B includes a cascade of digitaldown-converter circuitry 427, digital filter circuitry 436, PGAcircuitries 836A-836B, and optional DAC circuitry 445 (for interfacingto baseband processor circuitries that accept analog input signals, asdescribed above). IF LO circuitry 1715 couples to digital down-convertercircuitry 427 and provides IF LO in-phase signal 1718 and IF LOquadrature signal 1721 to the digital down-converter circuitry 427.

The digital filter circuitry 436 includes cascaded integrator/comb (CIC)filter circuitry 1705A, secondary filter circuitry 1710A, CIC filtercircuitry 1705B, and secondary filter circuitry 1710B. CIC filtercircuitry 1705A and secondary filter circuitry 1710A provide thein-phase signal path within the digital filter circuitry 436. Similarly,CIC filter circuitry 1705B and secondary filter circuitry 1710B providethe quadrature signal path within the digital filter circuitry 436. PGAcircuitry 836A provides programmable gain for the in-phase signal pathwithin the receiver digital circuitry. Likewise, PGA circuitry 836Bprovides programmable gain for the quadrature signal path of thereceiver digital circuitry.

One may control the programmable gain of PGA circuitries 836A-836B in avariety of ways, as desired. In exemplary embodiments of the invention,the baseband processor circuitry (not shown explicitly in the figure)controls the PGA circuitries 836A-836B in order to keep the signalsprovided to the baseband circuitry within a certain range. To do so, thebaseband processor circuitry uses a gain-control algorithm that modifiesthe gain of the PGA circuitries 836A-836B depending on the level of thesignals that the receiver digital circuitry provides to the basebandcircuitry. In other words, if the level of those signals is too low, thebaseband circuitry increases the gain of the PGA circuitry 836A and/or836B, and vice-versa. The details of the gain-control algorithm dependon the specifics of the baseband processor implementation, as persons ofordinary skill in the art would understand.

One may use in RF apparatus according to the invention receiver digitalcircuitry with architectures different than shown in FIGS. 17A-17B. Forexample, FIGS. 18A and 18B show conceptual or functional block diagramsof alternative architectures of receiver digital circuitries for use inexemplary embodiments of the invention. Conceptually, the circuitarrangements shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B change the order of processingthat the circuits in FIGS. 17A and 17B perform on the signals theyreceive from the receiver analog circuitry. Note that one may use eitherof receiver digital circuitry in FIG. 18A or the receiver digitalcircuitry in FIG. 18B as the receiver digital circuitries shown in FIGS.2 and 4-8.

FIG. 18A illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of areceiver digital circuitry that includes a cascade of digital filtercircuitry 436, digital down-converter 427, and optional DAC circuitry445 (for interfacing to baseband processor circuitries that acceptanalog input signals, as described above). IF LO circuitry 1715 couplesto digital down-converter circuitry 427 and provides IF LO in-phasesignal 1718 and IF LO quadrature signal 1721 to the digitaldown-converter circuitry 427.

Similar to the circuit in FIG. 17A, the digital filter circuitry 436 inFIG. 18A includes complex CIC filter circuitry 1805 and complexsecondary filter circuitry 1810. Unlike the circuit in FIG. 17A,however, the receiver digital circuitry in FIG. 18A first filters theinput signals using the digital filter circuitry 436 and then mixes downthe filtered signal to baseband by using the digital down-convertercircuitry 427.

FIG. 18B shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of analternative architecture for a receiver digital circuitry according tothe invention. Similar to the circuit arrangement in FIG. 17B, thereceiver digital circuitry in FIG. 18B includes a cascade of digitalfilter circuitry 436, digital down-converter circuitry 427, PGAcircuitries 836A-836B, and optional DAC circuitry 445 (for interfacingto baseband processor circuitries that accept analog input signals, asdescribed above), but in a different order. Like the circuit in FIG.17B, the digital filter circuitry 436 in FIG. 18B includes CIC filtercircuitry 1805 and secondary filter circuitry 1810. IF LO circuitry 1715couples to digital down-converter circuitry 427 and provides IF LOin-phase signal 1718 and IF LO quadrature signal 1721 to the digitaldown-converter circuitry 427.

PGA circuitry 836 provides programmable gain for the in-phase signalpath within the receiver digital circuitry. Likewise, PGA circuitry 836Bprovides programmable gain for the quadrature signal path of thereceiver digital circuitry. Similar to FIG. 17B described above, inexemplary embodiments of the invention, the baseband processor circuitry(not shown explicitly in the figure) controls the PGA circuitries836A-836B in FIG. 18B in order to keep the signals provided to thebaseband circuitry within a certain range. To accomplish that goal, thebaseband processor circuitry uses a gain-control algorithm that changesthe gain of the PGA circuitries 836A-836B depending on the level of thesignals that the receiver digital circuitry provides to the basebandcircuitry. In other words, if the level of those signals is too low, thebaseband circuitry increases the gain of the PGA circuitries 836A and/or836B, and vice-versa. The details of the gain-control algorithm dependon the specifics of the baseband processor implementation, as persons ofordinary skill in the art would understand.

As an alternative to the arrangement shown in FIG. 18B, one may placethe PGA circuitries 836A-836B between the secondary filter circuitry1810 and the digital down-converter circuitry 427. By using feedbackautomatic gain control (AGC) to keep a constant level, the alternativeembodiment reduces the number of signal bits provided to the digitaldown-converter circuitry 427. Consequently, one may implement thedigital down-converter circuitry 427 in a simpler, less expensivemanner.

Generally, note that one may re-use hardware resources to implement thePGA circuitries 836A-836B (for example, by using a multiplier circuitrywithin a DSP engine, as described below in detail) in variousembodiments of the invention, as desired. By doing so, one may obtainimproved signal flow. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of theinvention use IIR-type filter circuitries as the secondary filtercircuitries. One, however, may use other types of filters, as desired.For example, one may use FIR, time-varying, non-linear filtercircuitries, or complex filter structures. The choice of the type offilter depends on various performance and design criteria, such asmagnitude and group delay response, power consumption, use of siliconarea, etc., as persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand.

Note that, unlike conventional circuits, RF receivers or transceiversaccording to the invention provide channelization filtering within thereceiver circuitry itself. Conventional circuits provide channelizationfiltering as part of the baseband processor circuitry that accompaniesthe RF circuitry. RF receivers or transceivers according to theinvention, however, provide channelization filtering within the receiverdigital circuitry. The CIC filter circuitry and the secondary filtercircuitry within the receiver digital circuitry perform channelizationfiltering. In other words, they transmit the desired signal channelwhile rejecting other users' channels and interfering signals.

Providing channelization filtering within the RF circuitry reduces theprocessing load on the baseband processor circuitry. Furthermore, wherethe baseband processor circuitry accepts analog signals from the RFcircuitry, providing channelization filtering within the RF circuitryovercomes the requirement for the DAC circuitries at the output of theRF circuitry to cope with adjacent channel signals. Consequently, onemay use cheaper, less complex, or smaller DAC circuitries and/orbaseband processor circuitries.

FIG. 19 provides a conceptual or functional signal flow-diagram of thedigital down-converter circuitry 427. One may use the digitaldown-converter circuitry of FIG. 19 in the RF apparatus shown in FIGS. 2and 4-8, as desired. The digital down-converter circuitry 427 includesfour multiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912. The digitaldown-converter circuitry also includes two combiner circuitries 1915 and1918. The multiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912 perform afully complex multiplication of the input signals from the receiveranalog circuitry (i.e., single-ended versions of the in-phase digitalreceive signal 421 and the quadrature digital receive signal 424) withthe input signals from the IF LO (i.e., the IF LO in-phase signal 1718and the IF LO quadrature signal 1721). Table 4 below lists the inputoperands to each of the multiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and1912. Signals 421A and 424A represent single-ended versions of thedifferential one-bit in-phase and quadrature digital receive signals 421and 424, respectively.

TABLE 4 Multiplier Circuitry First Operand Second Operand 1903 In-phasedigital receive IF LO in-phase signal 1718 signal 421A 1906 In-phasedigital receive IF LO quadrature signal 1721 signal 421A 1909 Quadraturedigital receive IF LO quadrature signal 1721 signal 424A 1912 Quadraturedigital receive IF LO in-phase signal 1718 signal 424A

Combiner circuitry 1915 subtracts the output of multiplier circuitry1909 from the output of multiplier circuitry 1903 to generate thein-phase output signal of the digital down-converter circuitry 427.Combiner circuitry 1918 adds together the output signals of multipliercircuitry 1906 and multiplier circuitry 1912 to provide the quadratureoutput signal of the digital down-converter 427. Note that this circuitarrangement applies to a signal centered at +f_(IF). For a signalcentered at −f_(IF), one may switch around the operands applied to thecombiner circuitries 1915 and 1918.

Note that the in-phase digital receive signal 421 and the quadraturedigital receive signal 424 are one-bit digital signals. In exemplaryembodiments of the invention, the in-phase and quadrature digitalreceive signals 421 and 424 have numerical values of +1 and −1, whichmap to binary logic zero and one levels. Note that one may assign thenumerical values and the corresponding binary logic values to thein-phase and quadrature digital receive signals 421 and 424, as desired.The IF LO in-phase signal 1718 and the IF LO quadrature signal 1721 aremulti-bit digital signals. Consequently, the output signals of themultiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912 are multi-bit digitalsignals.

As noted above, one of the operands for each of the multipliercircuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912 constitutes a one-bit digitalsignal (i.e., the in-phase digital receive signal 421 and quadraturedigital receive signal 424). As a result, the digital down-convertercircuitry 427 according to the invention may employ simple circuitarrangements to implement multiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and1912, rather than full multiplier circuitries. In exemplary embodiments,the multiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912 include circuitrythat conditionally changes the sign of the other respective operand tomultiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912 (i.e., the IF LOin-phase signal 1718 and the IF LO quadrature signal 1721). In otherwords, in this embodiment, each of the multiplier circuitries 1903,1906, 1909, and 1912 maps the two logic levels of the in-phase digitalreceive signal 421 and quadrature digital receive signal 424 to either+1 or −1, respectively, and changes the sign of the IF LO in-phasesignal 1718 and the IF LO quadrature signal 1721 accordingly. Thisimplementation results in simplified structures for the digitaldown-converter circuitry 427 and, thus, hardware, power, and costsavings.

By using the architectures shown in FIG. 18 rather than thearchitectures in FIG. 17, one may trade off the simplicity in thedigital down-converter circuitry 427 for simplicity in the digitalfilter circuitry 436. In other words, the digital filter circuitries 436in FIG. 18 receive one-bit signals 421 and 424 from the receiver analogcircuitry. Because the digital filter circuitries 436 operate onone-bit, rather than multiple-bit signals, they may have a simplifiedarchitecture and/or structure. The output signals of the digital filtercircuitries 436, however, provide multiple-bit output signals to thedigital down-converter circuitries 427. The digital down-convertercircuitries 427 in FIG. 18 are relatively more complex compared to thedigital down-converter circuitries 427 in FIG. 17, because they operateon multiple-bit signals. Thus, by using the architectures shown in FIG.18, one trades off the simplicity of the digital down-convertercircuitry 427 for simplicity in the digital filter circuitry 436.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate conceptual or functional block diagrams ofIF LO circuitry 1715 according to the invention. FIG. 20A shows aconceptual or functional block diagram of one embodiment of an IF LOcircuitry 1715 that uses sine and cosine look-up tables. The IF LOcircuitry 1715 in FIG. 20A includes a sine look-up table 2003A, a cosinelook-up table 2006A, sign inversion circuitries 2006A and 2009A, countercircuitry 2015A, and selection-logic circuitry 2018A. The sine look-uptable 2003A includes digital words that correspond to sine values.Similarly, the cosine look-up table 2006A stores digital words thatcorrespond to cosine values. In response to count value 2021A from thecounter circuitry 2015A, the sine look-up table 2003A and the cosinelook-up table 2006A provide sine and cosine values, respectively.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention use read-only memory (ROM)circuitries (not shown in FIG. 20A) to implement the sine look-up table2003A and the cosine look-up table 2006A. A first ROM circuitry storesdigital words for the sine values, whereas a second ROM circuitry storesdigital words for the cosine values. One, however, may implement thesine look-up table 2003A and the cosine look-up table 2006A in a varietyof ways, as persons skilled in the art would understand.

One may provide digital values corresponding to the sine and cosinevalues with a variety of resolutions (i.e., the number of bits in eachoutput word), as desired. Furthermore, one may use the inventiveconcepts with other techniques for providing sine and cosine values, aspersons of ordinary skill in the art who read the description of theinvention will understand. For example, rather than using look-uptables, one may compute sine and cosine values in real time, as desired.As another example, one may use one ROM circuitry to store both sine andcosine values.

The sine look-up table 2003A provides its output value (i.e., the sinevalue) to the selection-logic circuitry 2018A and the sign inversioncircuitry 2009A. At its output, the sign inversion circuitry 2009Aprovides the negative of the sine values. Similarly, the cosine look-uptable 2006A provides cosine values to both the selection-logic circuitry2018A and the sign inversion circuitry 2012A. The sign inversioncircuitry 2012A changes the sign of the cosine value and provides theresult (i.e., −cos) to the logic-selection circuitry 2018A. Thus, theselection-logic circuitry 2018A receives the following four quantities:sin, −sin, cos, and −cos.

The counter circuitry 2015A counts through a set of digital numbers. Thecounter circuitry 2015A provides its count value 2021A to the sinelook-up table 2003A and the cosine look-up table 2006A. The count value2021A serves as a pointer or index to the sine look-up table 2003A andthe cosine look-up table 2006A. In exemplary embodiments of theinvention, the sine look-up table 2003A and the cosine look-up table2006A use the count value 2021A as an address input in their respectiveROM circuitries in order to retrieve the sine and cosine values.

The counter circuitry 2015A also provides the count value 2021A to theselection-logic circuitry 2018A. The count value 2021A signifies thequadrant for which the selection-logic circuitry 2018A provides outputsignals. The selection-logic circuitry 2018A uses the count value 2021Aand the quantities it receives from sine look-up table 2003A, the cosinelook-up table 2006A, sign inversion circuitry 2009A, and sign inversioncircuitry 2012A (i.e., sin, −sin, cos, and −cos, respectively) togenerate the IF LO in-phase signal 1718 and the IF LO quadrature signal1721.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the logic-selection circuitry2018A includes a multiplexer circuitry (not shown explicitly) to selectfrom the input signals of the logic-selection circuitry 2018A. Thelogic-selection circuitry 2018A uses the count value 2021A to selectfrom the input terms (i.e., sin, −sin, cos, and −cos), and provide theselected terms as IF LO in-phase signal 1718 and IF LO quadrature signal1721 signal. By using the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 20A inexemplary embodiments, one may reduce the size of the look-up tables2003A and 2006A by taking advantage of the symmetries in the sine andcosine functions. In other words, the look-up tables 2003A and 2006A maystore one-fourth of the waveforms for sine and cosine functions and usethe symmetry in those functions to derive values for other portions ofthe waveforms.

Note that FIG. 20A shows one possible arrangement for the IF LOcircuitry 1715. As persons of ordinary skill in the art who read thedisclosure of the invention will understand, however, one may use avariety of arrangements and implementations for the IF LO circuitry1715, as desired. For example, FIGS. 19 and 20A show conceptual blockdiagrams of the digital down-converter circuitry 427 and the IF LOcircuitry 1715 as separate blocks of circuitry. One, however, maycombine the functionality of the digital down-converter circuitry 427and the IF LO circuitry 1715 into one block, as desired.

FIG. 20B shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of a circuitarrangement that combines the functionality of the IF LO circuitry 1715with the functionality of the digital down-converter 427. The circuitarrangement in FIG. 20B includes a (sin+cos) look-up table 2003B, a(sin−cos) look-up table 2006B, sign inversion circuitries 2006B and2009B, counter circuitry 2015B, and selection-logic circuitry 2018B. The(sin+cos) look-up table 2003B includes digital words that correspond tosine plus cosine values. Similarly, the (sin−cos) look-up table 2006Bstores digital words that correspond to sine minus cosine values. Inresponse to the count value 2021B from the counter circuitry 2015B, the(sin+cos) look-up table 2003B and the (sin−cos) look-up table 2006Bprovide (sin+cos) and (sin−cos) values, respectively.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention use read-only memory (ROM)circuitries (not shown in FIG. 20B) to implement the (sin+cos) look-uptable 2003B and the (sin−cos) look-up table 2006B. A first ROM circuitrystores digital words for the sine plus cosine values, whereas a secondROM circuitry stores digital words for the sine minus cosine values.One, however, may implement the (sin+cos) look-up table 2003B and the(sin−cos) look-up table 2006B in a variety of ways, as persons skilledin the art would understand. In exemplary embodiments of the invention,the (sin+cos) look-up table 2003B and the (sin−cos) look-up table 2006Bprovide 19-bit digital values as their respective outputs. One, however,may choose to provide digital values with other resolutions, as desired,by making modifications that persons skilled in the art wouldunderstand.

Moreover, by using the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 20B inexemplary embodiments, one may reduce the size of the look-up tables2003B and 2006B by taking advantage of the symmetries in the sine andcosine functions. In other words, the look-up tables 2003B and 2006B maystore one-fourth of the waveforms for the (sin+cos) and (sin−cos)functions and use the symmetry properties of sine and cosine functionsto derive values for other portions of the waveforms. Furthermore, notethat one may use the inventive concepts with other techniques forproviding sine and cosine values, as persons of ordinary skill in theart who read the description of the invention will understand. Forexample, rather than using look-up tables, one may compute sine andcosine values and, hence, (sin+cos) and the (sin−cos) values, in realtime, as desired.

The (sin+cos) look-up table 2003B provides its output value (i.e., thesine plus cosine value) to the selection-logic circuitry 2018B and thesign inversion circuitry 2009B. At its output, the sign inversioncircuitry 2009B provides the negative of sine plus cosine, or−(sin+cos). Similarly, the (sin−cos) look-up table 2006B provides sineminus cosine values to both the selection-logic circuitry 2018B and thesign inversion circuitry 2012B. The sign inversion circuitry 2012Bchanges the sign of the sine minus cosine value and provides the result(i.e., −(sin−cos)) to the logic-selection circuitry 2018B. Thus, theselection-logic circuitry 2018B receives the following four quantities:(sin+cos), −(sin+cos), (sin−cos), and −(sin−cos).

The counter circuitry 2015B counts through a set of digital numbers. Thecounter circuitry 2015B provides its count value 2021B to the (sin+cos)look-up table 2003B and the (sin−cos) look-up table 2006B. The countvalue 2021B serves as a pointer or index to the (sin+cos) look-up table2003B and the (sin−cos) look-up table 2006B. In exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, the (sin+cos) look-up table 2003B and the (sin−cos)look-up table 2006B use the count value 2021B as an address input intheir respective ROM circuitries in order to retrieve the (sin+cos) and(sin−cos) values.

The counter circuitry 2015B also provides the count value 2021B to theselection-logic circuitry 2018B. The selection-logic circuitry 2018Buses the count value 2021B (i.e., quadrant information) and thequantities it receives from (sin+cos) look-up table 2003B, the (sin−cos)look-up table 2006B, sign inversion circuitry 2009B, and sign inversioncircuitry 2012B (i.e., (sin+cos), −(sin+cos), (sin−cos), and −(sin−cos),respectively) to generate the in-phase and quadrature output signals. Inaddition, the selection-logic circuitry 2018B uses in-phase digitalreceive signal 421A and quadrature digital receive signal 424A togenerate its in-phase and quadrature output signals.

The circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 20B incorporates into thelogic-selection circuitry 2018B the multipliers (e.g., multipliercircuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912 in FIG. 19) that one would use ifone were to implement a separate digital down-converter circuitry 427.Furthermore, using the circuit arrangement in FIG. 20B uses stored(sin+cos) and (sin−cos) values in order to implement the function ofadders in the digital down-converter circuitry (e.g., adder circuitries1915 and 1918 in FIG. 19).

Note that FIG. 20B shows one possible arrangement for the combinedfunctionality of the IF LO circuitry 1715 and the digital down-convertercircuitry 427. As persons of ordinary skill in the art who read thedisclosure of the invention will understand, however, one may use avariety of arrangements and implementations, as desired.

The signal processing blocks within the digital filter circuitry 436 useas building blocks digital integrator circuitries and digitaldifferentiator circuitries. FIGS. 21 and 22 show a digital integratorcircuitry 2100 and a digital differentiator circuitry 2200,respectively, for use in exemplary embodiments of the invention.

The digital integrator circuitry 2100 in FIG. 21 includes a delay (orz⁻¹ block) circuitry 2103 and combiner circuitry 2106. The delaycircuitry 2103 generates a delayed version of the output signal y_(i)(n)and provides the delayed signal to the combiner circuitry 2106. Thecombiner circuitry 2106 sums the input signal x_(i)(n) with the delayedversion of the output signal y_(i)(n). The output signal of the combinercircuitry 2106 defines the output signal y_(i)(n) of the digitalintegrator circuitry 2100. The digital integrator circuitry 2100 has thefollowing transfer function, H_(i)(D):

${H_{i}(D)} = {\frac{1}{1 - D}.}$

Referring to FIG. 22, the digital differentiator circuitry 2200 has adelay circuitry 2203 that generates a delayed version of the inputsignal, x_(d)(n). The delay circuitry 2203 provides the delayed inputsignal to combiner circuitry 2206. The combiner circuitry 2206 subtractsthe delayed version of the input signal x_(d)(n) from the input signalx_(d)(n). The output signal of the combiner circuitry 2206 defines theoutput signal y_(d)(n) of the digital differentiator circuitry 2200. Thedigital differentiator circuitry 2200 has the transfer function:H _(d)(D)=1−D.

FIG. 23 shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of a CIC filtercircuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of the invention. The CICfilter circuitry includes combiner circuitry 2303, delay circuitry 2306,decimator circuitry 2309, combiner circuitry 2315, and delay circuitry2312. The decimator circuitry 2309 represents a circuit that decimatesits input data by N. One may implement the decimator circuitry 2309 as adelay element (such as a flip-flop) clocked at a frequency of 1/N of thesampling frequency of its input signal. In the exemplary embodimentshown in FIG. 23, the decimator circuitry 2309 decimates its input databy 16 (i.e., N=16) although, generally, one may use other values of N,as desired.

Note that combiner circuitry 2303 and delay circuitry 2306 togetherprovide an integrator circuitry (see FIG. 21). Likewise, note that thedelay circuitry 2312 and combiner circuitry 2315 together make adifferentiator circuitry (see FIG. 22). Thus, the CIC filter circuitryin FIG. 23 effectively includes a cascade of an integrator circuitry, adecimator circuitry 2309, and a differentiator circuitry.

The CIC filter circuitry has the following impulse response at asampling frequency that equals the input sampling frequency (i.e., 13MHz in exemplary embodiments):

Note that the above impulse response represents the impulse responseviewed at the input clock rate, rather than at the output clock rate.Thus, the impulse response of the CIC filter circuitry has the shape ofa rectangular window in the time domain. The number of “1”s in theimpulse response equals the decimation factor. In exemplary embodiments,the decimation factor equals 16. One, however, may use other values ofdecimation factors, as desired. The rectangular impulse response in thetime domain corresponds to a sin c function in the frequency domain.

As persons skilled in the art would appreciate, the CIC filter circuitryhas a transfer function:H _(CIC)(D)=1+D+D ² +D ³ +D ⁴ +D ⁵ +D ⁶ +D ⁷ +D ⁸ +D ⁹ +D ¹⁰ +D ¹¹ +D ¹²+D ¹³ +D ¹⁴ +D ¹⁵.Note that the CIC filter circuitry in FIG. 23 includes feedback (throughdelay circuitry 2306 in the integrator circuitry), so it appears toconstitute an infinite-impulse response circuit. Because of pole-zerocancellation, however, the CIC filter circuitry behaves (from aninput-output point of view) as a finite-impulse response circuit.

FIG. 24 illustrates a conceptual or functional block diagram of a boxcarfilter circuitry that one may use in exemplary embodiments of theinvention. The boxcar filter circuitry includes a cascade of delaycircuitries 2403A-2403O. An input signal drives the first delaycircuitry 2403A. The boxcar filter circuitry also includes a cascade ofcombiner circuitries 2406A-2406O. The input signal also drives one inputof the first combiner circuitry 2406A. The output signal of delaycircuitry 2403A drives another input of the first combiner circuitry2406A. Each of the succeeding combiner circuitries 2406B-2406O receivesone of its input signals from the output of the preceding combinercircuitry. Each of the succeeding combiner circuitries 2406B-2406O inthe chain also receives a second input from a corresponding delaycircuitry 2403B-2403O. For example, combiner circuitry 2406B receivesone operand from the output of combiner circuitry 2406A and anotheroperand from the output of delay circuitry 2403B, and so on.

The output of the last combiner circuitry, i.e., combiner circuitry24060, drives a decimator circuitry 2409. The decimator circuitry 2409generally decimates by a factor N. In exemplary embodiments of theinvention, N equals 16, although one may generally use other values ofN, as desired. Note that the boxcar filter circuitry in FIG. 24 includes15 delay circuitries 2403A-2403O and 15 combiner circuitries2406A-2406O. Depending on a given set of specifications and targetedperformance, however, one may use other numbers of delay and combinercircuitries, as desired.

The boxcar filter circuitry in FIG. 24 has the same impulse response andtransfer function as does the CIC filter circuitry in FIG. 23. From ahardware realization point of view, however, the CIC filter circuitryprovides a more efficient arrangement. The CIC filter circuitry uses twocombiner circuitries and three registers (to implement the delaycircuitries), whereas the boxcar filter circuitry uses 15 combinercircuitries and 16 registers. One may use either the CIC filtercircuitry or the boxcar filter circuitry to implement embodiments of theinvention, depending on desired performance and specifications, aspersons skilled in the art would understand.

FIG. 25 shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of a sixth-orderCIC filter circuitry for use in the receiver digital circuitry inexemplary embodiment of the invention. The CIC filter circuitry includesa cascade of an integrator chain section, a decimator circuitry 2509,and a differentiator chain section (the differentiator chain sectionconstitutes a comb filter circuitry). The CIC filter circuitry in FIG.25 has a similar signal-flow architecture to the CIC filter circuitry inFIG. 23. Note, however, that the CIC filter circuitry in FIG. 25 usessixth-order integrator and differentiator chain sections, whereas theCIC filter circuitry of FIG. 23 uses first-order integrators anddifferentiators. Depending on a given set of specifications andperformance targets, one may other numbers of integrators anddifferentiators, as desired. The 6th-order integrator and differentiatorchain sections corresponds to a transfer function in the frequencydomain that constitutes a sin c function raised to the sixth power.

The integrator chain section includes a cascade of six integratorcircuitries (each similar to the integrator circuitry in FIG. 21) thatuse combiner circuitries 2503A-2503F and delay circuitries 2506A-2506F.The output of the integrator chain section drives the decimatorcircuitry 2509. The decimator circuitry 2509 generally decimates by afactor of N. In exemplary embodiments of the invention, N equals 16,although one may generally use other values of N, as desired.

The differentiator chain includes a cascade of six differentiatorcircuitries (each similar to the differentiator circuitry in FIG. 22)that use combiner circuitries 2512A-2512F and delay circuitries2515A-2515F. Each combiner circuitry 2512A-2512F subtracts the outputsignal of a corresponding delay circuitry 2515A-2515F from the outputsignal of the preceding stage. The output of the differentiator chainsection (i.e., the output of combiner circuitry 2512F) constitutes theoutput signal of the CIC filter circuitry.

As FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate, the output of the CIC filter circuitry ineach of the in-phase and quadrature signal paths drives a secondaryfilter circuitry, such as an IIR filter circuitry. In exemplaryembodiments, the IIR filter circuitry includes a cascade of one or moresecond-order, or biquad, filter circuitries and a notch filtercircuitry. Each of the biquad filter circuitries and the notch filtercircuitry constitutes a second-order filter. Note that the IIR filtercircuitries and, more generally, the secondary filter circuitries,follow the CIC filter circuitries and, hence, the decimator circuitry.Thus, the IIR filter circuitries or secondary filter circuitries operateat a lower sample rate than the sample rate of the input signals to theCIC filter circuitries (13 MHz in exemplary embodiments of theinvention). Operation at a lower sample rate results in less stringenthardware specifications and less power consumption, for example, in CMOSimplementations of the invention. In exemplary embodiments of theinvention, the IIR filter circuitries or secondary filter circuitriesoperate at a sample rate of 812.5 kHz, although one may use other clockrate and sample rate arrangements, as desired.

FIG. 26 shows a conceptual or functional block diagram of a biquadfilter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thebiquad filter circuitry includes five gain circuitries 2603A-2603E,three combiner circuitries 2606A-2606C, and two delay circuitries2609A-2609B. Gain circuitries 2603A-2603C have gain values (orcoefficients) of b₀, b₁, and b₂, respectively. Similarly, gaincircuitries 2603D-2603E have gain values of −a₁ and −a₂, respectively.Note that delay circuitries 2609A-2609B operate at the sample rate ofthe biquad filter circuitry, i.e., 812.5 kHz in exemplary embodiments ofthe invention.

Gain circuitry 2603C scales the input signal by b₂ and provides theresult to combiner circuitry 2606C. Combiner circuitry 2606C alsoreceives as a second input signal the output signal (i.e., the outputsignal of the combiner circuitry 2606A), scaled by −a₂ by gain circuitry2603E. Combiner circuitry 2606C provides the sum of its two inputsignals to delay circuitry 2609B. Combiner circuitry 2606B receives oneinput from delay circuitry 2609B. Two other inputs to combiner circuitry2606B constitute the input signal scaled by b₁ (provided by gaincircuitry 2603B), and the output signal scaled by −a₁ (provided by gaincircuitry 2603D), respectively. Combiner circuitry 2606B sums its threeinput signals and provides the resulting quantity to delay circuitry2609A. Combiner circuitry 2606A provides the output signal of the biquadfilter circuitry by summing together the output signal of delaycircuitry 2609A and a version of the input signal scaled by b₀ (providedby gain circuitry 2603A).

The overall biquad filter circuitry has the following transfer function:

${H_{B}(D)} = {\frac{b_{0} + {b_{1}D} + {b_{2}D^{2}}}{1 + {a_{1}D} + {a_{2}D^{2}}}.}$As the above transfer function indicates, the biquad filter circuitryhas two zeros and two poles. The values of b₀, b₁, and b₂ control thelocation of the zeros of the biquad filter circuitry, whereas the valuesof a₁ and a₂ control its pole locations.

FIG. 27 depicts a conceptual or functional block diagram of a notchfilter circuitry for use in exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thenotch filter circuitry has a similar signal-flow architecture to thesignal-flow architecture of the biquad filter circuitry in FIG. 26. Thenotch filter circuitry includes five gain circuitries 2703A-2703E, threecombiner circuitries 2706A-2706C, and two delay circuitries 2709A-2709B.Gain circuitries 2703A-2703C have gain values of b₀₁, b₁₁, and b₂₁,respectively. Gain circuitry 2703D has a gain value of −a₁₁, and gaincircuitry 2703E has a gain value of 1-k. Gain circuitry 2703E controlssome of the characteristics of the notch filter circuitry, as describedbelow in more detail.

Gain circuitry 2703C scales the input signal by b₂₁ and provides theresult to combiner circuitry 2706C. A version of the output signal,scaled by 1-k by gain circuitry 2703E, constitutes a second input tocombiner circuitry 2706C. Combiner circuitry 2706C provides the sum ofits input signals to delay circuitry 2709B. Combiner circuitry 2706Breceives one input from delay circuitry 2709B. Two additional inputs tocombiner circuitry 2706B constitute, respectively, the input signalscaled by b₁₁ (provided by gain circuitry 2703B), and the output signalof gain circuitry 2703E (i.e., the output signal of the notch filtercircuitry scaled by 1-k) scaled by −a₁₁ (provided by gain circuitry2703D). Combiner circuitry 2706B sums its three input signals andprovides the resulting quantity to delay circuitry 2709A. Combinercircuitry 2706A provides the output signal of the notch filter circuitryby summing together the output signal of delay circuitry 2709A, and theinput signal scaled by b₀₁ (provided by gain circuitry 2703A),respectively.

As noted above, in exemplary embodiments, the secondary filtercircuitries or IIR filter circuitries in FIGS. 17 and 18 use cascadearrangements of biquad and notch filter circuitries. FIGS. 28A and 28Billustrates examples of such cascade arrangements. As persons ofordinary skill in the art who read the description of the invention willunderstand, depending on design and performance specifications, one mayuse either arrangement, as desired. The arrangement in FIG. 28A includesone biquad filter circuitry and one notch filter circuitry. The biquadfilter circuitry appears before the notch filter circuitry. Thearrangement in FIG. 28B also includes one biquad filter circuitry andone notch filter circuitry. Unlike the arrangement in FIG. 28A, however,the notch filter circuitry in the arrangement in FIG. 28B appears beforethe biquad filter circuitry.

The biquad and notch filter circuitries may constitute the biquad filtercircuitry and the notch filter circuitry that FIGS. 26 and 27 depict,respectively. The arrangements in FIGS. 28A and 28B are fourth-orderfilter circuitries overall. One, however, may use a different number offilter circuitries to provide a desired overall order for the filtercircuitry, as FIG. 29 and its description below illustrate.

One may implement the biquad and notch filter circuitries using avariety of digital filter hardware realization techniques, as persons ofordinary skill in the art would understand. For example, one may usededicated hardware, finite-state machines, standard cells, programmablehardware (e.g., PLDs, CPLDs, or FPGAs), or a combination of hardware andsoftware, as desired.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention realize the biquad filtercircuitry and the notch filter circuitry using DSP engines. The DSPengines constitute custom hardware, designed to perform a relativelylimited set of signal processing operations. A control logic circuitryincludes hard-wired, pre-selected operations. Depending on the designand performance specifications for a particular implementation, however,one may use other arrangements, such as signal processing hardware withprogrammable operations, as desired. The choice of the signal processinghardware for a particular implementation falls within the knowledge ofpersons skilled in the art who read the description of the invention.

The DSP engines have multiply and add capabilities, together with a setof registers for storing operands and the results of calculations. TheDSP engines use a clock frequency that is a multiple (16 in exemplaryembodiments) of the filter circuitries' data sample rate. For example,in some embodiments, the DSP engines use a 13 MHz clock, whereas thefilter circuitries have an 812.5 kHz clock, although one may use otherclocking arrangements, as desired. Using different clocking rates forthe DSP engines and the filter circuitries allows time-multiplexing themultiply and add operations used to realize the filter circuitries.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, each DSP engine can implementthe functionality of two biquad filter circuitries, or one biquad filtercircuitry and one notch filter circuitry, and the programmable-gaincircuitries for both the in-phase and quadrature signal paths. Note,however, that one may implement different numbers of filter circuitriesby each DSP engine, as desired. Exemplary embodiments of the inventionuse three DSP engines, thus providing the capability for filtercircuitries up to 12th order. Note, however, that one may use differentnumbers and/or types of DSP engines to realize other filter orders, asdesired, by making modifications that persons of ordinary skill in theart understand.

DSP engines in exemplary embodiments of the invention use coefficientvalues stored in ROM circuitries. In those embodiments, one may changethe coefficient values by modifying the contents of the ROM circuitries.Note, however, that one may implement and/or store the coefficientvalues in a variety of ways, as persons skilled in the art wouldunderstand. For example, one may store the coefficient values inregister circuitries that an accompanying baseband processor circuitryprograms. As another example, one may store the coefficient values inerasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmableROM (EEPROM), or electrically erasable ROM (EEROM) circuitries, or flashmemory circuitries, as desired.

One may use coefficient values and state variables with a desired bitprecision in the digital filter circuitry. Exemplary embodiments of theinvention use bit precisions that tend to reduce quantization noise intypical applications. In those embodiments, the state variables eachinclude 26 bits. Filter coefficients, with the exception of b₀ and b₀₁in FIGS. 26-28, use a simple floating-point representation, with a12-bit mantissa and a 3-bit exponent.

Coefficients b₀ and b₀₁ result from simple shift operations on the inputdata, x(n), of the biquad filter circuitry and the notch filtercircuitry, respectively. In other words, to realize coefficients b₀ andb₀₁, the hardware shifts the input data corresponding to x(n). Aspersons of ordinary skill in the art understand, a right-shift operationcorresponds to a divide-by-two operation. Thus, by using N right-shiftoperations, one may in effect multiply the input samples x(n) by ½^(N).Conversely, by using M left-shift operations, one may multiply the inputsamples by 2^(M). Using the shift operations to realize multiplicationor division by powers of 2, rather than using a full multiplier,provides hardware savings and circuit simplification in exemplaryembodiments of the invention. Note, however, that one may usemultipliers in order to implement arbitrary filter coefficients b₀ andb₀₁, as desired. Because the shift operations do not use a multipliercircuitry in the DSP engines, one may use the multiplier circuitry toimplement the functionality of PGA circuitries 836A and 836B.

In exemplary embodiments, coefficient b₁₁ has a 19-bit mantissa and a3-bit exponent. The increased bit precision of the mantissa tends toallow more precise positioning of the notch filter circuitry's notchfrequency. The desired precision of the various coefficients may vary,depending on design and specification factors for each particularembodiment of the invention. One may therefore use other precisions andarrangements of the various coefficients, as desired.

FIGS. 29A-29F show exemplary arrangements of biquad filter circuitriesand notch filter circuitries to provide various desired overall orderfor the secondary filter circuitry. The overall order of the filtercircuitry influences the characteristics of the filter circuitry, suchas its magnitude response and group-delay characteristics, as persons ofordinary skill in the art would understand.

FIGS. 29A-29C illustrate a cascade arrangement of biquad and notchsections where the notch section appears after the biquad sections. FIG.29A illustrates a cascade arrangement of two biquad filter circuitriesand a notch filter circuitry. The overall filter circuitry constitutes a6th-order filter. FIG. 29B depicts a similar arrangement. The cascadearrangement in FIG. 29B includes three biquad filter circuitries and anotch filter circuitry. Thus, the overall filter circuitry is an8th-order filter. FIG. 29C shows a cascade arrangement of five biquadfilter circuitries and a notch filter circuitry. The overall cascadearrangement constitutes a 12th-order filter.

FIGS. 29D-29F illustrate a cascade arrangement of notch and biquadsections where the notch section appears before the biquad sections.Placing the notch filter circuitry before the biquad filter circuitriesmay lead to a quicker settling time when used in combination with theadjustment of the notch filter circuitry, described below in detail.FIG. 29D illustrates a cascade arrangement of a notch filter circuitryand two biquad filter circuitries. The overall filter circuitryconstitutes a 6th-order filter. FIG. 29E depicts a similar arrangement,where the cascade arrangement includes a notch filter circuitry andthree biquad filter circuitries. Thus, the overall filter circuitry isan 8th-order filter. FIG. 29F shows a cascade arrangement of a notchfilter circuitry and five biquad filter circuitries. The overall cascadearrangement constitutes a 12th-order filter.

Note that FIG. 29 illustrates filter circuitry arrangements in exemplaryembodiments of the invention. One, however, may use other arrangementsthat use different numbers of biquad and notch filter circuitries, asdesired, depending on various design and performance criteria, aspersons skilled in the art would understand. For example, one may usedifferent numbers of biquad filter circuitries and/or different numbersof notch filter circuitries, as desired. Furthermore, one may reversethe order of the biquad section (or sections) and the notch section. Inother words, the notch section may appear between two biquad sections,as desired. As one example, the notch filter in FIGS. 29A and 29D mayappear between the two biquad sections, rather than either before them(as in FIG. 29D) or after them (as in FIG. 29A).

Tables 5-7 provides the values of filter circuitry coefficients forvarious exemplary embodiments of the invention, as shown in FIGS.29D-29F. The “Block” column refers to the position of a block withinFIG. 29. For example, “Biquad 1” refers to the first biquad section inFIGS. 29D-29F. Table 5 below lists the various coefficient values forthe filter circuitry arrangement of FIG. 29D:

TABLE 5 Block Coefficient Value Notch b₀₁ 1/2 b₁₁ −93795/131072 b₂₁ 1/2a₁₁ −(1550/1024)*(15/16) 1 − k 15/16 Biquad 1 b₀  1/16 b₁  1204/65536 b₂ 4092/65536 a₁ −4880/4096  a₂ 1483/4096 Biquad 2 b₀ 1/4 b₁ −53920/65536 b₂ 45248/65536 a₁ −5704/4096  a₂ 2552/4096

Table 6 lists the various coefficient values for the filter circuitryarrangement of FIG. 29E:

TABLE 6 Block Coefficient Value Notch b₀₁ 1/2 b₁₁ −93795/131072 b₂₁ 1/2a₁₁ −(1563/1024)*(15/16) 1 − k 15/16 Biquad 1 b₀  1/32 b₁  3210/65536 b₂ 1995/65536 a₁ −2786/2048  a₂ 1095/2048 Biquad 2 b₀ 1/2 b₁ −86208/65536 b₂ 59744/65536 a₁ −2752/2048  a₂ 1403/2048 Biquad 3 b₀ 1/8 b₁ 3434/65536 b₂  7692/65536 a₁ −2956/2048  a₂ 1123/2048

Finally, Table 7 lists the coefficient values for the filter circuitryarrangement shown in FIG. 29F:

TABLE 7 Block Coefficient Value Notch b₀₁ 1/2 b₁₁ −93795/131072 b₂₁ 1/2a₁₁ −(1526/1024)*(15/16 1 − k 15/16 Biquad 1 b₀  1/32 b₁  1443/65536 b₂ 1937/65536 a₁ −3198/2048  a₂ 1660/2048 Biquad 2 b₀ 1/8 b₁ −4640/65536b₂  7372/65536 a₁ −2986/2048  a₂ 1088/2048 Biquad 3 b₀ 1/2 b₁−75072/65536  b₂ 48064/65536 a₁ −3144/2048  a₂ 1246/2048 Biquad 4 b₀ 1/2b₁ −89920/65536  b₂ 61664/65536 a₁ −3198/2048  a₂ 1396/2048 Biquad 5 b₀1/4 b₁ −6640/65536 b₂ 14848/65536 a₁ −2950/2048  a₂ 1683/2048

FIG. 30 illustrates various characteristics of an 8th-order filtercircuitry arrangement, such as the filter circuitry shown in FIG. 29E.The filter circuitry includes three biquad sections and one notchsection, thus providing an 8th-order overall transfer function. FIG. 30Adepicts a pole-zero map in the z-plane. The pole-zero map includes eightzeros, grouped as zero pairs 3003A-3003B, 3006A-3006B, 3009A-3009B, and3012A-3012B. The pole-zero map also shows eight poles, grouped as polepairs 3015A-3015B, 3018A-3018B, 3021A-3021B, 3024A-3024B. The pairedzeros and poles indicate that the filter circuitry has a real transferfunction.

FIG. 30B illustrates a single-sided magnitude response (i.e.,symmetrical around zero frequency, or DC) of the 8th-order filtercircuitry. FIG. 30B includes four plots, each corresponding to thecumulative input-output magnitude response of the blocks in FIG. 29E. Inother words, plots 3030A, 3030B, 3030C, and 3030D provide the magnituderesponses between the input to the notch section and the outputs of thenotch section, the first biquad section, the second biquad section, andthe third biquad section, respectively, of the embodiment shown in FIG.29E. Hence, plot 3030D corresponds to the transfer function from theinput of the notch section to the output of the last biquad section. Asplot 3030D shows, the filter circuitry provides a low-pass transferfunction. Furthermore, the notch section provides a notch at 100 kHz.

Note that the circuit arrangements in FIG. 29 contemplate a real filtercircuitry for the in-phase signal-path and a real filter circuitry forthe quadrature signal-path. Consequently, the overall filter circuitryconstitutes a real filter that has symmetrical characteristics (aroundDC or zero frequency) in the frequency domain.

FIG. 30C shows the group delay response of the 8th-order filtercircuitry. FIG. 30C includes four plots, each corresponding to thecumulative group delay of the blocks in FIG. 29E. Thus, plots 3040A,3040B, 3040C, and 3040D provide the group delay responses between theinput to the notch section and the outputs of the notch section, thefirst biquad section, the second biquad section, and the third biquadsection, respectively, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 29E. Accordingly,plot 3040D corresponds to the group delay from the input of the notchsection to the output of the last biquad section.

One may use different bit precisions for the digital signals in variousembodiments of the invention, as desired. In one exemplary embodiment ofthe invention, the IF LO in-phase signal 1718 and the IF LO quadraturesignal 1721 each contain 18 bits, and the output signals of themultiplier circuitries 1903, 1906, 1909, and 1912 each include 18 bits.The output signals 1730A-1730B of the digital down-converter circuitry427 each have 19 bits of resolution. The secondary filter circuitry1710A-1710B (IIR-type filters) use 26-bit state variables and have26-bit output signals 1740A-1740B, and the PGA circuitries 836A-836Bhave 10-bit output signals 869, 872. Furthermore, the CIC circuitries1705A-1705B use 6th-order integrator and differentiator chain sections,as shown in FIG. 25. The integrator chain section uses different bitprecisions for each of the integrator circuitries within the chain.Table 8 below describes the bit precisions for the loop signal and theoutput signal of each of the six integrator circuitries:

TABLE 8 Integrator No. Loop Signal Output Signal 1 43 bits 39 bits 2 39bits 35 bits 3 35 bits 31 bits 4 31 bits 27 bits 5 27 bits 23 bits 6 23bits 18 bitsThe differentiator circuitries in the differentiator chain section use18-bit signals and has 18-bit output signals (i.e., the CIC circuitries1705A-1705B have 18-bit output signals 1735A-1735B).

Note, however, that, rather than using the above bit precisions, one mayuse other number of bits to provide signals with various resolutions, asdesired, by making modifications that persons of ordinary skill in theart would understand. Furthermore, generally, the signals in exemplaryembodiments of the invention use two's complement signed numbernotation. One, however, may use other number representation formats, asdesired, by making modifications that artisans who read the descriptionof the invention will understand.

The notch filter circuitry within the digital filter circuitry 437operates to remove residual DC offsets from the signal of interest. Asnoted above, the removal of the residual DC offsets according to theinvention operates in the presence of interference signals (e.g.,interferers and blockers) and the desired signal. Because of circuitnon-idealities and non-ideal circuit behavior, DC offsets appear within,and at the outputs of, the receiver analog circuitry. The receiveranalog circuitry includes DC offset reduction or cancellation circuitry,as described in co-pending, commonly owned patent application Ser. No.10/074,676, titled “DC Offset Reduction in Radio-Frequency Apparatus andAssociated Methods.” Some residual DC offsets, however, may appear atthe outputs of the receiver analog circuitry and therefore enter thereceiver digital circuitry. The signal processing in the receiverdigital circuitry, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, translates orshifts the DC offsets to a frequency of −100 kHz. The notch filterprovides a notch at −100 kHz, thus removing any residual DC offsets, asdescribed below in detail.

Because RF apparatus according to the invention use a relatively low IFfrequency (100 kHz in exemplary embodiments), the low-pass filtering bythe low-pass sections of the digital filter circuitry (i.e., thecircuitry besides the notch filter circuitry) by themselves would noteasily remove the DC offsets. A low-pass filter circuitry for removingthe residual DC offset would typically have a high order, require moresignal processing (thus, more hardware or longer processing time, and/orhigher power consumption), and have long transient-responsecharacteristics. A long transient-response characteristic would lead tothe receiver digital circuitry having to power up long before thebeginning of the reception of a burst of data.

The notch filter circuitry in exemplary embodiments constitutes a2nd-order filter that provides a relatively narrow and relatively deepnotch at −100 kHz. The notch filter circuitry removes the −100 kHzsignal, thus canceling or reducing the effects of any residual DCoffsets that enter the receiver digital circuitry. Moreover, the notchfilter circuitry can adjust the location of its poles, which tends toreduce its settling time. The reduced settling time allows the receiverdigital circuitry to power up at a later time during the receptionphase. Delaying the powering up of the receiver digital circuitry helpsto save power in portable or battery-operated applications. The reducedsettling time also provides more time for the transmit and receiveoperations and, thus, higher data transfer rates (for example, whenusing GPRS techniques).

The notch filter circuitry removes a tone at −100 kHz, which resultsfrom the operation of the digital down-converter circuitry 427. FIGS.31-35 show the waveforms corresponding to the frequency spectrum ofsignals at various points in the receiver digital circuitry in exemplaryembodiments of the invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 31illustrates a spectrum of input signals (i.e., in-phase and quadraturesignals) of the receiver digital circuitry. The residual DC offset 3103appears at DC, or zero frequency. The signal band of interest 3106,centered at the IF frequency, appears to the right of the residual DCoffset 3103. Noise and interference spectra 3109 fall below DC and tothe right of the signal band of interest 3106. The sampling frequency,f_(s), is 13 MHz, with a Nyquist rate of 13/2 MHz, or 6.5 MHz.

FIG. 32 depicts the spectrum of the output signals of the digitaldown-converter circuitry 427. Because of the mixing with the IF LOsignals 1718 and 1721 in the digital down-converter circuitry 427, thetone corresponding to the residual DC offset 3103 shifts to −100 kHz.Also because of the mixing within the digital down-converter circuitry427, the signal band of interest 3106 falls within the band from −f_(IF)to f_(IF), and centers around DC. The noise and interference spectra3019 occupy the region below −f_(IF) and above f_(IF).

FIG. 33 shows the frequency spectrum of the output signal of the CICcircuitry, such as CIC circuitries 1705A-1705B in FIG. 17. Note that thedecimator circuitry, such as decimator circuitry 2509 in FIG. 25,reduces the sampling frequency from f_(s) to f′_(s), (from 13 MHz to812.5 kHz in exemplary embodiments). Accordingly, the Nyquist ratereduces from f_(s)/2 to f′_(s)/2. The residual DC offset 3103 stillresults in a −100 kHz tone, and the signal band of interest 3106occupies the region between −f_(IF) to f_(IF), centered around DC. TheCIC filter circuitry reduces the amplitude of the noise and interferencespectra 3109, which occupy the region below −f_(IF) and above f_(IF).

FIG. 34 shows the spectrum of the signals at the output of the notchfilter circuitry. The notch filter circuitry has removed the residual DCoffset, thus leaving the signal band of interest 3106 in the regionbetween −f_(IF) and f_(IF). Note that the noise and interference spectra3109, which occupy the region below −f_(IF) and above f_(IF), remain.FIG. 35 shows the spectrum of the signals at the output of the finalbiquad section of the IIR filter circuitry, for example, one of thefinal biquad sections in FIGS. 29D-F. Note that compared to FIG. 33, thebiquad sections of the IIR filter circuitry have attenuated the noiseand interference spectra 3109. The signal band of interest 3106, whichoccupies the range between −f_(IF) and f_(IF), remains.

The plots presented in FIGS. 31-35 correspond to a receiver digitalcircuitry (e.g., the architecture shown in FIG. 17) that firstdown-converts the input signal to the receiver digital circuitry andthen uses a notch filter circuitry to remove the tone corresponding tothe residual DC offset. One, however, may reverse the order of thoseoperations by using a notch filter circuitry to remove the residualoffset at DC before the mixing operation of the digital down-convertercircuitry 427. One may use such a signal-flow architecture with areceiver digital circuitry as shown in FIG. 18, as desired.

The notch filter circuitry in exemplary embodiments constitutes a realfilter, and therefore has notches at both −100 kHz and +100 kHz, but theresidual DC offset translates to a tone at −100 kHz. One may use acomplex filter (e.g., a filter that has a notch at −100 kHz), asdesired. The choice of the type of filter depends on design andperformance considerations, as persons of ordinary skill in the artwould understand. In general, however, real filters tend to be easierand simpler to implement than complex filters.

FIGS. 36 and 37 show, respectively, the characteristics of a real notchfilter circuitry and a complex notch filter circuitry for use in RFapparatus according to the invention. FIG. 36A illustrates a typicalpole-zero diagram for a 2nd-order real notch filter circuitry. Thepole-zero diagram includes two zeros and two poles. The zeros reside onthe unit circle. The poles fall inside the unit circle to ensurestability of the filter. The relative closeness of the poles to the unitcircle tends to affect the settling time of the notch filter circuitry.FIG. 36B provides a frequency response diagram for the notch filtercircuitry of FIG. 36A. The notch filter circuitry has two notches, oneat −f_(IF), and another at f_(IF). The notch filter circuitrysubstantially transmits signals in the frequency band between −f_(IF)and f_(IF) as well as frequencies outside that range, whilesubstantially attenuating tones at the notch frequency.

FIG. 37A depicts a typical pole-zero diagram for a complex notch filtercircuitry. The pole-zero diagram includes a single zero 3705 and asingle pole 3710, rather than the complex-conjugate poles of the realnotch filter circuitry of FIG. 36. The zero 3705 resides on the unitcircle. The pole 3710 resides inside the unit circle. The location ofthe pole 3710 within the unit circle tends to affect the settling timeof the notch filter circuitry. The zero 3705 has a location given by:

$z_{zero} = {\mathbb{e}}^{{- j}\; 2\;\pi{\frac{f_{IF}}{f_{s}}.}}$The pole 3710 has a location given by:

${z_{pole} \approx {\alpha\;{\mathbb{e}}^{{- j}\; 2\;\pi\frac{f_{IF}}{f_{s}}}}},$where α is a function of k. The angle θ, which denotes the angle betweenthe locations of zero 3705 and pole 3710 and the real axis, has thevalue:

$\theta = {{- 2}\;\pi{\frac{f_{IF}}{f_{s}}.}}$Note that the zero 3705 resides on the unit circle. Furthermore, notethat the location of the pole 3710 depends on the value of k (1-kconstitutes one of the coefficients of the notch filter circuitry, asFIGS. 27 and 28 show). The location of the pole 3710 controls the widthof the notch.

FIG. 37B provides a frequency response diagram for the notch filtercircuitry of FIG. 37A. The notch filter circuitry has a single notch at−f_(IF). The notch filter circuitry substantially transmits signals inthe frequency bands below and above −f_(IF).

One may use a number of different topologies and architectures for thenotch filter circuitry. FIG. 38 shows one example of an alternativenotch filter circuitry 3800. The notch filter circuitry 3800 constitutesa complex notch filter realized by means of a complex band-pass filtercircuitry arranged within a feedback loop. All signals within the notchfilter circuitry 3800 are complex signals. The notch filter circuitry3800 includes combiner circuitry 3803, gain circuitry 3806, delaycircuitry 3809, combiner circuitry 3812, and gain circuitry 3815.

Gain circuitry 3815, having a gain value of k, scales the output signalof the notch filter circuitry to provide a scaled output signal. Thescaled output signal constitutes one operand for combiner circuitry3812. Combiner circuitry 3812 provides an output signal to delaycircuitry 3809. The output of delay circuitry 3809 feeds an input ofgain circuitry 3806. An output of gain circuitry 3806 constitutesanother operand for combiner circuitry 3812. Gain circuitry 3806provides a gain of

${\mathbb{e}}^{{- j}\; 2\;\pi\frac{f_{IF}}{f_{s}}}.$The output of delay circuitry 3809 also serves as one operand forcombiner circuitry 3803. The input signal of the notch filter circuitryprovides a second operand for combiner circuitry 3803. Combinercircuitry 3803 subtracts the output of delay circuitry 3809 from theinput signal and provides the result as the output signal of the notchfilter circuitry.

As noted above, one may adjust or modify the characteristics of thenotch filter circuitry by, among other things, adjusting the location ofits poles. More particularly, adjusting the location of the poles of thenotch filter circuitry affects the width of the notch and the settlingtime of the notch filter circuitry. Ideally, one would use a notchfilter circuitry that has both a relatively narrow notch and arelatively fast settling time. The width of the notch and the settlingspeed of the notch filter circuitry, however, have an inverserelationship. Put another way, placing the poles so as to decrease thewidth of the notch increases the settling time of the notch filtercircuitry, and vice-versa.

Notch filter circuitry in exemplary embodiments of the invention includeprovisions for adjusting the width of the notch (also called“gear-shifting”) and, hence, the settling time of the notch filtercircuitry. Although exemplary embodiments of the invention useadjustable notch filter circuitries, depending on performance and designconsiderations, one may use notch filter circuitries with fixed polelocations, as desired. The adjustment feature of the notch filtercircuitry, however, provides a notch with a programmable or adjustablewidth and settling speed. The adjustment feature also helps the notchfilter circuitry to perform its function of canceling or reducing theresidual DC offset in the presence of the desired signal, interference,blockers, sweeping interference (for example, resulting from settlingoperation of the local oscillator circuitry), sweeping blockers, andquantization noise, while maintaining a relatively fast acquisition. Byadjusting the width of the notch, notch filter circuitries in exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide a trade-off between noise immunityand acquisition speed and accuracy.

In exemplary embodiments, the notch filter circuitry has an adjustmentcycle during which the location of the poles of the filter circuitryvary. In the beginning of the adjustment cycle, the poles residerelatively close to the origin of the z-plane, thus providing arelatively wide notch, but a relatively fast settling time. Subsequentlyin the adjustment cycle, the poles of the notch filter circuitry moveprogressively away from the origin of the z-plane. The movement of thepoles progressively decreases the width of the notch to a relativelynarrow notch and less distortion to the in-band signal. At the end ofthe adjustment cycle, the notch stays relatively narrow.

In exemplary embodiment, the adjustment cycle of the notch filtercircuitry ends before the reception of a data burst by the receiverdigital circuitry begins. Note, however, that more generally theadjustment cycle of the notch filter circuitry may not end before thereception of a data burst begins. The adjustment of the width of thenotch occurs by modifying the values of k (1-k constitutes one of thecoefficients of the notch filter circuitry). In exemplary embodiments,the time instances when the value of k changes are programmable (e.g.,through instructions from the baseband processor circuitry). Arelatively large initial value of k provides faster acquisition of theDC offset, albeit with more susceptibility to noise, interference,blockers, and quantization noise. Relatively smaller subsequent valuesof k provide more noise-resistant, more accurate acquisitions of the DCoffset.

FIG. 39 illustrates the adjustment of the poles of the notch filtercircuitry, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 27, as a function of k.FIG. 39 represents a pole-zero diagram on a z-plane for an adjustablenotch filer circuitry in exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thenotch filter circuitry has two zeros 3903A and 3903B, as well as a polepair 3906A and 3906B. During the adjustment process, the value of kdecreases as a function of time, thus causing the location of the poles3906A-3906B to change.

Initially, the pole pair 3906A-3906B resides relatively close to theorigin of the unit circle. The initial location of the pole pair3906A-3906B corresponds to k=¼. As the value of k decreases, pole pair3906A-3906B moves toward the periphery of the unit circle. In otherwords, the pole pair 3906A-3906B moves to locations denoted by 3906A1and 3906B1 as k decreases from ¼ to ⅛. A further decrease in the valueof k from ⅛ to 1/16 causes the pole pair 3906A-3906B to migrate tolocations 3906A2 and 3906B2.

As noted above, in exemplary embodiments, the times at which the valueof k changes are also adjustable. The time instances, however, havedefault values in those embodiments of the invention. Table 9 belowprovides the default times and the corresponding values of k:

TABLE 9 Time (μs) k 0 1/4  60 1/8  80 1/16 >80 1/16

For time values of time larger than about 80 μs until the end of theoperation cycle of the notch filter circuitry, the value of k remains at1/16.

FIG. 40 depicts a timeline for the adjustment of the notch filtercircuitry with respect to several other events within RF apparatusaccording to the invention. In preparation for the commencement of adata reception burst, the local oscillator circuitry powers up andbegins to settle. In FIG. 40, the local oscillator circuitry powers upat t=t₀. At t=t₁, DC offset cancellation or reduction begins in thereceiver analog circuitry. DC offset cancellation or reduction in thereceiver analog circuitry uses an adjustment technique similar to theadjustment of the notch filter circuitry, as described in detail inpatent application Ser. No. 10/074,676, titled “DC Offset Reduction inRadio-Frequency Apparatus and Associated Methods,” referenced above.

Subsequently, at t=t₂, adjustment of the notch filter circuitry startswith an initial value of k=¼. As part of the adjustment process, thevalue of k changes to ⅛ and 1/16 at t=t₃ and t=t₄, respectively. Att=t₅, the local oscillator circuitry has settled and the data receptionburst starts. Also at t=t₅, the secondary filter circuitry begins tosettle. Finally, at t=t₆, output data becomes available to the DACcircuitries and, subsequently, to the baseband processor circuitry. Notethat, rather than providing final output data, one may outputintermediate data (i.e., data available before the secondary filtercircuitry settles) to the DAC circuitries and the baseband processorcircuitry, as desired.

The description of the invention refers to providing a notch at minusthe intermediate frequency, or −100 kHz in exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Note that that discussion applies to a receiver digitalcircuitry that has an architecture similar to the architectures in FIGS.17A-17B. If one uses an architecture that performs the digital filteringoperations (including the notch filtering operation) before the digitaldown-conversion operation, however, the notch filter circuitry shouldprovide a notch at a correspondingly different frequency. For example,if one chooses to use the alternative architectures shown in FIGS.18A-18B, the notch filter circuitry should provide a notch at zerofrequency, or DC. Because in the alternative architectures in FIG.18A-18B the notch filter circuitry operates on signals that the digitaldown-converter circuitry 427 has not yet shifted, the notch filterprovides the notch at zero frequency.

Referring to FIGS. 17-29 and 38, the various blocks shown in thosefigures depict mainly the conceptual functions and signal flow. Theactual circuit implementation may or may not contain separatelyidentifiable hardware for the various functional blocks. For example,one may combine the functionality of various blocks into one circuitblock, as desired. Furthermore, one may realize the functionality of asingle block in several circuit blocks, as desired. The choice ofcircuit implementation depends on various factors, such as particulardesign and specifications for a given implementation, as persons ofordinary skill in the art who read the disclosure of the invention willunderstand.

Note that one may use the inventive digital architecture and DC offsetreduction apparatus and methods in a variety of RF apparatus, such asthose described above with respect to partitioning and digital interfaceconcepts, by making modification within the knowledge of persons ofordinary skill in the art who read the description of the invention.Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention willbe apparent to persons skilled in the art who read this description ofthe invention. Accordingly, this description teaches those skilled inthe art the manner of carrying out the invention and are to be construedas illustrative only.

The forms of the invention shown and described should be taken as thepresently preferred embodiments. Persons skilled in the art may makevarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention described in this document.For example, persons skilled in the art may substitute equivalentelements for the elements illustrated and described here. Moreover,persons skilled in the art who have the benefit of this description ofthe invention may use certain features of the invention independently ofthe use of other features, without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. A radio-frequency (RF) apparatus, comprising: a first circuitpartition, comprising: an amplifier that receives an RF signal, andprovides an amplified RF signal; a down-converter that mixes theamplified RF signal to generate a down-converted signal; and ananalog-to-digital converter that converts the down-converter signal to adigital signal, wherein the analog-to digital converter provides thedigital signal as a one-bit digital signal; and a second circuitpartition, comprising: a digital channelization filter that filters thedigital signal to generate a filtered digital signal; a digitaldown-converter that converts the filtered digital signal to generate abaseband signal; and a digital to analog converter that coverts thebaseband signal to an analog signal.
 2. The radio-frequency (RF)apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second circuitpartitions are isolated from each other.
 3. The radio-frequency (RF)apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second circuitpartitions reside within an integrated circuit (IC).
 4. Theradio-frequency (RF) apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstand second circuit partitions reside within a multi-chip module.
 5. Theradio-frequency (RF) apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstand second circuit partitions are part of a low-intermediate-frequency(low-IF) receiver.
 6. The radio-frequency (RF) apparatus according toclaim 5, further comprising a transmitter coupled to a basebandprocessor circuit.
 7. The radio-frequency (RF) apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the low-intermediate-frequency (low-IF) receiver iscoupled to the baseband processor circuit.
 8. A digital receive-pathcircuit in a radio-frequency (RF) apparatus, the digital receive-pathcircuit comprising: a cascaded integrator/comb (CIC) filter that filtersa complex one-bit digital receive signal to generate a first filteredcomplex digital signal; an infinite-impulse-response (IIR) filter thatfilters the first filtered complex digital signal to generate a secondfiltered complex digital signal; and a digital down-converter that mixesthe second filtered complex digital signal with a complex digitalintermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator signal to generate acomplex digital down-converted signal.
 9. The digital receive-pathcircuit according to claim 8, further comprising a digital intermediatefrequency (IF) local oscillator circuit that supplies the complexdigital IF local oscillator signal.
 10. The digital receive-path circuitaccording to claim 8, wherein the cascaded integrator/comb (CIC) filtercomprises a decimator circuit, and a plurality of delay circuits. 11.The digital receive-path circuit according to claim 8, wherein theinfinite-impulse-response (IIR) filter comprises a plurality of biquadcircuits.
 12. The digital receive-path circuit according to claim 8,further comprising a notch filter coupled to the digital down-convertercircuitry.
 13. The digital receive-path circuit according to claim 12,wherein the notch filter comprises a plurality of delay circuits, and aplurality of combiner circuits.
 14. The digital receive-path circuitaccording to claim 12, wherein the notch filter comprises a complexband-pass filter circuitry arranged within a feedback loop.
 15. A methodof processing a radio-frequency (RF) signal, the method comprising:amplifying the RF signal within a first circuit partition to generate anamplified RF signal; mixing the amplified RF signal within the firstcircuit partition to generate a down-converted signal; converting,within the first circuit partition, the down-converted signal to adigital signal; supplying the digital signal to a second circuitpartition; digital channelization filtering the digital signal withinthe second circuit partition to generate a filtered digital signal;converting, within the second circuit partition, the filtered digitalsignal to a baseband signal; and digitally amplifying the basebandsignal within the second circuit partition, using a programmable gain.16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the digital signalcomprises a one-bit signal.
 17. The method according to claim 15,wherein the first and second circuit partitions are isolated from oneanother.
 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first andsecond circuit partitions reside within an integrated circuit (IC). 19.The method according to claim 15, wherein the first and second circuitpartitions are part of a low-intermediate-frequency (low-IF) receiver.